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WHO WE ARE - CRA, INC. IN THE NEWSEARLY RUSH EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AT MANCHESTER FLU SHOT DRILL
“I get so sick of hearing all about it all the time. It makes me a nervous wreck,” Christie said as she waited in her wheelchair to be checked out by a nurse after receiving her flu shot at the Middle School at ParksIde. State Health & Human Services Commissioner John Stephen called the flu clinic drills, held in Portsmouth, Manchester and Colebrook a success. He noted that the drill also highlighted issues that need to be addressed, such as whether police have the authority to detain and isolate people involuntarily and whether emergency responders have the vaccinations, equipment and training needed to handle infected people. Patients yesterday received vaccinations against normal influenza. There is no bird-flu vaccine yet. At the Manchester clinic the drill fell far short of its goal of processing 2,000 people. By 3 p.m., only about 700 people had gone through the 15 booths manned by more than 40 nurses set up in the gym. Officials suspect the shortfall was caused by last-minute eligibility restrictions. A temporary shortage of flu vaccines forced health officials to withdraw their invitation to the general public about two days before the event. Only those at high risk — the elderly, pregnant women and those with health issues — were invited. Manchester Public Health Director Frederick Rusczek said despite the shortfall, the clinic’s capacity was successfully tested during the early-morning opening rush. At one point, the clinic processed 150 people in hour, besting officials’ estimates of 120 an hour maximum. “We could have handled even more,” Rusczek said. Paul Jacobsen, U.S. Department of Health and Human Service executive officer of the New England region, congratulated New Hampshire for being the first in the country to test its emergency response through the use of flu clinics in the three communities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is paying for the flu shots, and the state has contracted an outside firm, CRA, Inc., to monitor the drill and report on it. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center physician and emergency planning consultant Robert Gougelet said he will recommend the state hold emergency response drills like this every year. |
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Don't mention the words “avian flu” to Anna Christie of
Manchester, who was one of about 750 people getting a
free flu shot yesterday during a drill designed to test
the state’s handling of an avian flu pandemic.