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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Provider Notice issued 08/21/09

Pre-Registration to Receive Novel H1N1 Vaccine

To:​ Physicians, Advanced Practice Nurses, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Encounter Rate Clinics (ERC), Rural Health Clinics (RHC), Local Health Departments, School-based Clinics, Local Education Agencies (LEA), and Hospitals billing fee-for-service​
Date:​ August 21, 2009​
Re:​ Pre-Registration to Receive Novel H1N1 Vaccine ​

This notice provides information on pre-registering with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) or the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine. The intent of pre-registration is to gauge interest and capacity to administer the vaccine this Fall. Although pre-registration is not mandatory, it is recommended. Providers need only complete the survey once. Pre-registration must be done by August 31, 2009. Once you have pre-registered with IDPH or CDPH, you will be sent ordering guidelines and procedures, and a provider agreement. The agreement must be signed and returned before vaccine will be provided to you.

 

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates 90,000 ship-to sites in the U.S. from central distribution, with several thousand sites expected in Illinois. For centralized distribution, minimum dose orders will be 100.
  • For those who do not meet the minimum dose order, IDPH and the CDPH may be able to act as secondary distribution sites through their vaccine warehouses.
  • Providers outside of Chicago may pre-register through IDPH: http://www.idph.state.il.us/swine_flu/H1N1_IL_Vaccine.htm or call 1-800-526-4372. 
  • Providers in Chicago may pre-register through CDPH: www.chicagohan.org or call 312-746-6129.
  • The following guidelines issued by the CDC should be considered when determining the number of doses needed for your patient population. Groups recommended to receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine include:
    • Pregnant women, because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated.
    • Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might help protect infants by "cocooning" them from the virus.
  • Health care and emergency medical services personnel, because infections among health care workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce health care system capacity.  
  • All people from 6 months through 24 years of age.
    • Children from 6 months through 18 years of age, because there have been many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children, and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread.
    • Young adults, 19 through 24 years of age, because there have been many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults; they often live, work, and study in close proximity; and they are a frequently mobile population.  
  • Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

The Department will be sending out additional information on the billing and reimbursement for the novel H1N1 vaccine as it becomes available.

 

Theresa A. Eagleson, Administrator

Division of Medical Programs