FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           Connecticut Department of Public Health

April 1, 2010                                           Contact: William Gerrish

                                                               (860) 509-7270

Hartford – Results released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show as a region, New England’s H1N1 vaccination coverage rates were consistently above the national average.  In fact, the New England region’s vaccination rates were the highest in the country in eight of nine target populations surveyed.

The most notable success is in the coverage rates of children ages six months through 17 years.  The average national H1N1 vaccination coverage rate is 35.1%.  As a region, New England’s coverage rate is 56.5%. (Connecticut’s coverage rate is 43.2%.) New England also reached significantly more individuals ages 25-64 who have health conditions who put them at higher risk for developing complications from H1N1 influenza.  The national average was 30.8%; New England’s rate was 46.5%.

“We are very grateful for the thousands of people of Connecticut who worked hard to make sure that as many people as possible were offered vaccine,” said Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Dr. J. Robert Galvin.  “These numbers show that we were reaching the people who most needed to be protected.  Since the beginning of the pandemic in April 2009, the New England Health Officers spoke on a regular basis to share information and to discuss policies and strategies.  It was this continued collaboration that was one of the keys to our successful H1N1 response in New England.” 

Nearly 1.2 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been distributed to healthcare providers, local health departments, hospitals, and other vaccinators throughout the state.  To date, there have been 3,513 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Connecticut in the second wave of the pandemic.  This number is likely only a fraction of actual cases of H1N1 flu as many cases are mild enough that they can be treated at home and do not require medical attention.

Although Connecticut has seen a decrease in influenza activity over the past several weeks, there is still evidence of influenza circulating, including H1N1.  DPH recommends people who have not been vaccinated to contact their health care provider, find a clinic online at www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch/fluclinic, or call the H1N1 hotline at 1-800-830-9426.

The data are from a national telephone survey conducted by CDC through the months of December, January, and February.  The full report and data can be viewed on the DPH website at www.ct.gov/dph.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state.  To contact the department, please visit its website at www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-7270.

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