The seasonal flu vaccine is available at the Wilmington VA Medical Center and the Ventnor, Vineland, Cape May, Dover and Georgetown Community Based Outpatient Clinics. We have vaccinated more than 6,000 Veterans in the first few weeks of the seasonal flu campaign!

To get your Seasonal flu shot:

• Come to any regularly scheduled appointment
• Come to the Wilmington VA's Flu Shot Clinic in the ground floor auditorium or attend a drive-thru clinic {See schedule below} [printable Adobe .pdf version] 
• Come to the Wilmington VA Medical Center Lobby after October 26 for flu shots from 8:30am to 11:00am and 1:30pm to 3:00pm
• Go to any Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) starting the week of October 5, 2009 {See schedule below} [printable Adobe .pdf version] 

Delaware Hospitals Offer New Visitation Guidelines

Delaware hospitals have collectively agreed to new visitation guidelines to protect patients, their loved ones and health care workers from both seasonal and H1N1 flu. Many states nationwide are implementing new temporary visitation guidelines as a result of increasing concern over containing the spread of both seasonal and H1N1 flu.

Effective immediately, visitors to patients in Delaware hospitals are limited to persons age 16 or older. Teens younger than 16 are at greater risk for flu complications and remain contagious longer than adults. [+ more guidelines]

Novel H1N1 Flu Vaccine

The Wilmington VA Medical Center has received its first shipment of H1N1 vaccine. Our priority is to vaccinate the people who have the biggest impact on our Veterans' health and well-being. Therefore, front-line healthcare workers in the Intensive Care and Emergency Department areas will be the first to be vaccinated. Also, pregnant patients and staff will be the first offered the vaccine.

We are anticipating several shipments of H1N1 vaccine.  There is a four-phase vaccination plan. We are initiating Phase I. We will proceed through the phases and offer the H1N1 vaccine to more people as our vaccine supply increases.

Phase I: Target population for the first doses

Consistent with the general recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, VISN4, and local policy, the plan for the first doses is as follows:

• Hands-on healthcare workers in the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department. People may go to the Employee Health Nurse, take advantage of roving flu vaccine carts, or through their nursing shift supervisor.
• Pregnant employees, volunteers and patients. The Women's Health clinic is contacting all pregnant women to offer vaccinations. Occupational Health will vaccinate pregnant workers.
• Employees and Veterans who are caregivers for infants less than six months old.
• If vaccine remains as of October 22, 2009, the H1N1 vaccine will be offered to all hands-on healthcare workers in non-ICU inpatient wards and these workers will be offered the H1N1 vaccine.
• The target group will be expanded to include hands-on health care workers in outpatient settings, including vaccine sent to vaccinate CBOC staff depending on vaccine availability.

Phase 2: Target population for additional early H1N1 vaccination

When additional shipments of vaccine are received, there will be an aggressive effort to vaccinate staff with the biggest impact on keeping Veterans healthy. The following groups have been selected to receive vaccination to provide the best use of limited availability of the H1N1 vaccine.

• Employees with hands-on or face-to-face front-line patient care contact (Nursing and Clerical staff, Physicians, Respiratory Therapists, Housekeeping, Front Desk Clerks, Social Workers, Chaplains, etc.)
• Anyone 24 years or younger with or without comorbidities
• Veterans less than 65 years of age who have one of the chronic medical conditions that place patients at "particularly high risk" for complications from influenza.

Phase III: Remaining priority group subjects

When sufficient vaccine is available, vaccinations will be offered to the remaining priority groups.

• Remaining 25 to 64 year olds with any comorbidity that puts them at risk for flu complications.
• Remaining Wilmington VA Medical Center staff

Phase IV: Open vaccination of all Veterans and staff

The H1N1 vaccine will be offered to all registered patients once demand from the priority groups lessens.

Remember to cover your coughs and sneezes and wash your hands frequently to protect your health and the health of others!

H1N1 (Swine Flu)

H1N1 (Swine Flu) Widget. Flash Player 9 is required.