H1N1 Vaccination Training for EMS State of Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Charles E. Cady, MD State Medical Director Special thanks to Gateway Technical College & the Kenosha Fire Department

Objectives Understand the H1N1 Vaccine Learn how vaccine administration is different from routine EMS care Learn to administer H1N1 vaccine – Live, attenuated intranasal vaccine – Inactivated intramuscular vaccine

How Vaccines Work Vaccines “trick” the body – Antigens Human body fights the antigen – Antibodies Antibodies specific to the antigen Ideally produce life-long protection – Sometimes boosters needed – Flu is different every year (mutations)

Types of Vaccines Live, attenuated Inactivated

Live, attenuated Contains live, but weakened virus The H1N1 vaccine is intranasal – But some are shots Weakened – Replicate in body only a dozen times compared to thousands in real disease – May cause mild illness, usually limited to nose – Rarely transmit to others

Inactivated Virus is killed Antigens from virus present Cannot cause infection H1N1 inactivated vaccine is IM injection only

EMS Providing Vaccination EMS and prevention – Education – Evaluations Physical intervention for prevention Consent for vaccine – A process – Not implied

Process Vaccinee receives appropriate VIS Vaccinee completes top of VAR Provider reviews VAR – Complete – Contraindications Vaccine prepared Vaccine administered VAR completed

Vaccine Information Sheet

Provided by CDC All vaccinees required to receive a copy Information part of informed consent Different VIS for each vaccine Different languages available

Vaccine Administration Record

Contraindications – Relative – Absolute for EMS – Different for type and manufacturer Vaccinee information Signature

VAR Review Any “yes” answer precludes EMS administration without nurse/physician review Name and contact info legible Signature present

The next sections will cover the specific procedures for intranasal and IM administration