In response to increasing numbers of swine flu cases, Saint
Louise Regional Hospital will restrict the age of its visitors,
effective immediately.
In response to increasing numbers of swine flu cases, Saint Louise Regional Hospital will restrict the age of its visitors, effective immediately.
Children under 16 who are not seeking medical care are restricted from entering the hospital. Those visitors who show signs of infection, such as cough, fever or other respiratory symptoms, are also encouraged to stay out of the hospital.
“Saint Louise is committed to the health and safety of our community,” said Joanne Allen, president and chief executive officer of Saint Louise. “During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, we are using extra precaution to protect our patients, visitors, and staff. By following these guidelines when you visit, you can help us provide the best possible care to those who need it.”
Signs will be posted throughout the hospital to remind visitors of the new policy, which will be in effect until the end of the influenza season. The policy follows the recent declaration of President Obama that 2009 H1N1 flu is a national public health emergency, according to a press release issued by hospital staff. Several local and national hospitals are implementing similar restrictions to reduce the spread of this growing pandemic.
Public and private health care providers in Santa Clara County received another 89,000 doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccination from manufacturers this week, according to a press release issued by the county. Kaiser receives a separate supply and are not part of this allocation. Under the leadership of Board of Supervisors President Liz Kniss, the county has successfully pushed to get more vaccine, increasing the doses it received from 26,000 to a total of 147,000 for public and private medical providers. The 147,000 includes shipments received before this week.
People who are high risk for illness or complications from this flu should contact their providers to see if they have the vaccine, health officials advised. The H1N1 vaccine will also be administered through vaccination clinics this weekend.
“As elected officials representing the interest of our community, we were compelled to take action to ensure we received a fair allocation of H1N1 vaccine,” said Supervisor Liz Kniss. “Our vocal concerns about the state’s distribution of the H1N1 vaccine resulted in the state changing its allocation process and putting Santa Clara County at the top of the list to receive the vaccine.”
Santa Clara County’s population is 1.8 million, making it the largest county in northern California. The County estimates that it has 800,000 residents that meet the federal criteria of those at-risk for illness or serious complication from the pandemic H1N1 flu virus.
Vaccinations will continue to be provided only to those in the following groups: pregnant women, children and young adults between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, people who live with or provide care for infants under 6 months, adults between the ages of 25 and 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at risk for serious illness and death from the H1N1 flu virus and health care and emergency service care workers.
A clinic will be held at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. A clinic will be held locally at the Valley Health Center, 7475 Camino Arroyo from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Those who are sick or have sick children are asked not to come to the vaccination clinics. People who are ill will not be able to get the vaccine until they are well.
