Public Health Advisory


	GARY M. FELDMAN, M.D., FAAP, FABMG Public Health Officer
	COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY
COMMUNITY HEALTH AGENCY • DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH • DISEASE CONTROL BRANCH
	SEPTEMBER 2005

HEALTH ISSUES FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA

Immunizations
Riverside County Department of Public Health is receiving calls concerning recommended immunizations for health care professionals being deployed to assist in the Hurricane affected areas in the Gulf States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has provided the following recommendation:

Immunizations for all travelers

• Tetanus/diphtheria (Td). Tetanus and diphtheria toxoid (receipt of primary series, and Td booster within 10 years)
Immunizations for persons with high likelihood of exposure to blood and body fluids such as healthcare workers

• Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B vaccine series for persons who will be performing direct patient care or otherwise expected to have contact with bodily fluids. For more information, see Interim Immunization Recommendations for Emergency Responders: Hurricane Katrina.

Please see www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/immunizations.asp for more detailed information.

Immunizations for School Aged Children
The California Department of Health Services has provided information on how to access immunization information for children displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The Immunization registry coordinator for Riverside County Department of Public Health has been authorized to access the immunization registries for Louisiana and Mississippi and can assist with obtaining records for Alabama.
To request assistance with obtaining immunization data from Vaxtracks, please contact the Help desk at (951) 354-1400.

Children have up to 30 school days to obtain their immunizations. It is important to track children who are granted conditional entrance to school to ensure the series is completed.

TB
Children requiring TB clearance for school entry must be screened for signs and symptoms suggestive of TB. Asymptomatic children may enter school and have 5 days to obtain a clearance. Please contact TB Control at (951) 358-5107 if assistance is needed.

Refer to CDC Website www.cdc.gov for more information.

For More Information:
Riverside County Department of Public Health, Disease Control
(951) 358-5107