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Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) did not receive any shipments of H1N1 vaccine for children which has been recalled across parts of the country because of some lost strength. “We want the public to know we did not have any of those lot numbers associated with that recall,” said Gary Malacarne, Pharm.D., the hospital’s pharmacy director. “The H1N1 vaccines we’ve administered to children were from an entirely different lot number and do not have any lost strength. We want to stress that to parents and family members to ally any concerns,” Dr. Malacarne said.

Four free H1N1 flu clinics for anyone older than six months of age will be held, starting this week, in Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC’s) main lobby. First- and second-dose vaccination clinics will be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday of this week and also Monday and Tuesday of next week, said BRMC officials. Those being inoculated will first have to register in BRMC’s main lobby, located off North Bennett Street. Getting the H1N1 vaccination is considered one of the best ways to reduce chances of getting the virus which has caused a global pandemic. Health officials are recommending all individuals to be inoculated. “This is the perfect time to be immunized during the current downturn before the next H1N1 flu surge occurs,” said Terrie O’Brien, BRMC’s infection control practitioner. “Ample doses of the vaccine will be available for all four days at BRMC so people should not be concerned about supplies running out during the clinics,” she said. The federal Centers...

By George Nianiatus, senior writer/media manager Communications & Marketing Department Upper Allegheny Health System The chance of getting the H1N1 flu can be greatly reduced by getting a vaccination, as supplies become available, practicing good hygiene etiquette and making sure those who’ve contracted the flu stay home until their symptoms subside so it’s not spread to others. Those are just a few of the key points being made by Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC’s) Brian Walters, D. O., Emergency Department chairman, and Rebecca Truax Miller, M.D., of Pediatric Associates as they strive to inform the public about what should be done as the global pandemic continues to unfold. Dr. Miller also is chairman of Pediatrics and president of BRMC’s Medical Staff. “Getting the vaccine is the most important prevention measure people can take,” said Dr. Miller. As more H1N1 vaccine becomes available, BRMC will schedule additional clinics, the physicians said. The H1N1 vaccine, procur...

H1N1 immunization booster shots for 3- to 6-year-olds will be available next week at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), but parents or guardians must first call Friday, Dec. 4, or Monday, Dec. 7, for an appointment. "To schedule an appointment for 3- to 6-year-olds, parents or guardians must call today or Monday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.," said Terrie O'Brien, BRMC's infection control practitioner. The special number to call is 814-362-8740. “Once an appointment is made, parents or guardians can take children to Thursday’s clinic on Dec. 10 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in BRMC’s main lobby for their second-dose H1N1 immunization,” she said. Both the nasal mist and injectable H1N1 vaccine will be available. “It’s important to receive the second immunization so that children have full immunity,” Mrs. O’Brien said. “We excluded school-age children from this immunization clinic because the school district has already provided immunizations to that age group,” Mrs. O’Brien...

This morning I spoke with Dr. Stephen Ostroff, PA’s Acting Physician General, who discussed the H1N1 vaccination and virus. You can listen here . Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is warning people about an e-mail scam: Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Health urges computer users not to open a fraudulent e-mail that claims to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, and asks individuals to create a "personal H1N1 vaccination profile." Anyone receiving this e-mail should not open it and delete it immediately. The fraudulent e-mail links to a fake Web site that attempts to collect personal information. Clicking on the embedded link in the e-mail puts users at risk of having a malicious code installed on their computer. Some Pennsylvanians have coincidentally received this e-mail after registering for the Department of Health’s H1N1 vaccine clinics, but there is no relation. Pennsylvania’s online vaccine registration system is safe to ...

The Foster Township Board of Health will be presenting an H1N1 Flu panel discussion featuring local doctors and public health leaders at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the University Room in Pitt-Bradford's Frame-Westerberg Commons. The event is free and open to the public.

There's a seasonal flu vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the VFW in Bradford. This is for registered veterans only. This is a clinic for seasonal flu, not H1N1.

New York Governor David Paterson has declared a state of emergency because of the rise in swine flu cases. The executive order means that more health care workers, including dentists, will be permitted to administer vaccines with only brief training. The order is needed to suspend provisions of state law. State officials also say the federal government is allowing them to order twice as many doses of the vaccine than they ordered a week ago. At least 75 deaths in the state have been attributed to the swine flu. http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/press_1029094.html

The Cattaraugus County Health Department has announced its H1N1 vaccination sites. The first of the clincis is for pregnant women and anyone from 6 months to 24 years of age; and those ages 25 to 64 who have health conditions, such as chronic lung, kidney, liver and blood disorders. The first clinic is November 6th at the Machias Health Department and the second is from 1 to 4pm at the Salamanca Health Department. The third clinic is November 10 from 4 to 7pm at the Olean Health Department. http://ww2.cattco.org/news/2009734-h1n1-vaccination-pods-announced

The H1N1 flu clinic will again be held Tuesday, Oct. 27, from noon to 6 p.m. in Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC’s) Outpatient Services Center lobby. The clinic is strictly for those who are age 6 months to 24 years old, and also pregnant women. Parents who take their children to BRMC’s Pediatric Associates for healthcare and checkups will not need to obtain their child’s immunization records for the H1N1 flu clinic. Pediatric Associates will provide those immunization records. However, parents who take their children elsewhere for regular healthcare and checkups must bring immunization records in order for their child to receive the H1N1 immunization. Additional clinics will be held in the coming weeks for other target groups. from BRMC

Parents who take their children to Bradford Regional Medical Center’s Pediatric Associates for healthcare and checkups will not need to obtain their child’s immunization records for the free H1N1 flu vaccination clinics being held today and Tuesday, from noon to 6 p.m., in the hospital’s main lobby. Pediatric Associates will be providing those immunization records. However, parents who take their children elsewhere for regular healthcare and checkups must bring immunization records in order for their child to receive the H1N1 immunization. e-mail and phone call from George Nianiatus, BRMC

Parents must bring immunization records for their children who will be receiving an H1N1 flu vaccination at free clinics being held Monday and Tuesday, from noon to 6 p.m. both days, in the Outpatient Services Center lobby at Bradford Regional Medical Center, say hospital officials.

( We're running this again as a public service ) Bradford Regional Medical Center is planning its first two H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine clinics for certain high risk groups, starting next week. Pregnant women and people six months to 24 years old can obtain the vaccine from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 and Tues., Oct. 27. Patients will be screened for appropriateness and registered in the Outpatient Services Center lobby, N. Bennett Street Ext. No appointments are necessary and supplies are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children under 10 will need two shots to be fully protected, given 28 days apart. A reminder card will be given to their care giver at the time of the first vaccine date. Parental or guardian consent is required for those under 18 years of age. Officials said future H1N1 clinics will be scheduled as additional vaccine becomes available. Those with questions about the vaccine should contact their physicians. The public is asked to listen to 1490 WESB for upda...

Bradford Regional Medical Center is planning its first two H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine clinics for certain high risk groups, starting next week. Pregnant women and people six months to 24 years old can obtain the vaccine from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 and Tues., Oct. 27. Patients will be screened for appropriateness and registered in the Outpatient Services Center lobby, N. Bennett Street Ext. No appointments are necessary and supplies are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children under 10 will need two shots to be fully protected, given 28 days apart. A reminder card will be given to their care giver at the time of the first vaccine date. Parental or guardian consent is required for those under 18 years of age. Officials said future H1N1 clinics will be scheduled as additional vaccine becomes available. Those with questions about the vaccine should contact their physicians. The public is asked to listen to 1490 WESB for updates on the H1N1 flu vaccine supplies at BRMC....

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital has received an initial supply of H1N1 vaccine. People identified as high risk patients should contact their primary care provider to receive a vaccination as it becomes available. CCMH also began vaccinating health care workers and emergency medical services personnel this week to protect patients, staff and visitors. The CDC has recommended that high risk groups be vaccinated first: pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers of children younger than six months, health care and emergency medical services personnel, those six months to 24 years, and those 25 to 64 years with certain health conditions. After the high risk groups have been vaccinated, the general population will be able to receive the H1N1 vaccine. Last week, Charles Cole revised its visitation policy to further protect patients, staff and visitors due to increased flu activity. The revised visitation policy restricts children under 18 from visiting the hospital. Exceptions may be m...

To help minimize the spread of illness during this upcoming flu season, Bradford Regional Medical Center officials are installing special sanitizer stations throughout the main campus for use by visitors and others in the building. "It's a way of encouraging our visitors to use precautionary measures, especially if they're feeling ill," explained Deborah Price, BRMC's Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services. According to federal and state officials, this year's seasonal flu season could affect record numbers of patients, with the additional health threat posed by H1N1 (swine) flu. BRMC's sanitizer stations consist of lucite holders which provide users with hand sanitizers, Kleenex and face masks. Terrie O'Brien, BRMC's infection control practitioner, said that anyone entering the building exhibiting signs of respiratory illness should stop by the sanitizer stations. "We're encouraging individuals to stay home if they have coughs, fe...

Valerie Tinder, RN, takes Charles Cole Memorial Hospital’s occupational health influenza vaccination program “on the road” last week. To date, 400 employees and volunteers received their annual seasonal flu vaccines. The employee vaccination program will continue as the hospital strives to protect its patients, visitors and staff during the flu season. e-mailed from Janene Dunn, Charles Cole Memorial Hospital

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has had its first confirmed case of H1N1—or swine flu – a student who has since recovered and is back on campus. Health officials on campus received the confirmed diagnosis late Thursday afternoon. The student became ill in the early morning hours of Sept. 10. Campus Police drove him to the emergency room at Bradford Regional Medical Center, where he was tested. He returned to campus in the afternoon, and his father came to take him home later that day. As a precaution, Bonnie McMillen, director of Health Services on campus, called the sick student’s roommate, suggesting he go home right away. The roommate agreed since he lives close by. Also, additional precautions were taken, including cleaning and disinfecting the entire apartment that evening. The student was able to return to campus on Monday, Sept. 14, after being free of a fever for at least 24 hours, as recommended by the Centers for Diseas...

By George Nianiatus, senior writer Communications Department A comprehensive flu preparedness plan by Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) has been instituted to ready itself and the community for the traditional flu season which now brings the added concern of the novel H1N1 virus. BRMC’s healthcare officials say they have been diligently meeting for several months to formulate a thorough plan which includes holding seasonal flu clinics for the public and staff, monitoring patient traffic in the Emergency Department, and waging a public awareness campaign which emphasizes good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Although in previous years BRMC’s McKean County VNA & Hospice coordinated the community flu clinics, this year the vaccines will be administered at the hospital. The public will be notified of the dates via local media. To help combat the dual risk of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu, BRMC officials are urging individuals - and particularly those in high-risk categ...

With the return of students to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford today, the university is putting in place plans for preventing or mitigating a possible outbreak of the H1N1 influenza on campus. “Whenever large groups of people come together, there’s always an increased possibility of illness,” noted Dr. Livingston Alexander, president. “We have discussed, planned and organized measures to protect students and the faculty and staff in hopes of getting through the fall semester with minimum impact from H1N1.” College students are at a higher risk than much of the population for two reasons. First, young people appear to be more susceptible to H1N1. The largest numbers of confirmed or probable cases of H1N1 have occurred in people between the ages of 5 and 24, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In addition, students live closely together, giving the virus a chance to spread. To prevent the spread of H1N1, Pitt-Bradford is educat...