Man’amko help kick off flu shots campaign in the CNMI

 Congregates at the Aging Center, along with Aging Office trainees and staff, got their flu shots yesterday with the Department of Public Health’s launch of its “Bee Wise Immunize” campaign to fight the spread of the influenza virus.

DPH Immunization Program manager Jeremy T. Sasamoto, immunization response coordinator Gloria Ramon, staff nurse Laurina Boyer, and community outreach worker Jeffrey Sablan were joined by Northern Marianas College nursing instructor Hervin Jacinto and freshman students Brittany Concepcion, Vachinaporn Ngainwong-Bagby, Nisha Shrestha, Wanda Sotomayor, and Carina Train in administering the vaccines at the center.

Boyer said the immunization team brought 100 vaccines for the congregates, trainees, and staff.

Those who got their flu shots were required to fill out or answer the patient encounter form, submit to a temperature and blood pressure check, and were asked if they are allergic to eggs.

Felisa Basa, who was the first to line up for the immunization event held at the conference room, said that she got her last flu shot also through the same event last year.

“Every year, I have to take it. I don’t want to lose it [the opportunity to get a flu shot],” Basa, 81, told Saipan Tribune.

Since she is scared of needles, Basa opted for the injection on her back. “I don’t want to see the needle so I wanted it on my back,” she explained.

Kimo Jordan, who was also among the earliest to fall in line for the shot, said he also had flu shot last year. “It been effective so far.”

Sasamoto said that they launched this year’s immunization campaign at the Aging Center since the man’amko are among the priority groups for the flu vaccine. Other priority groups are children, pregnant women, first responders, and those with compromised immune systems.

“They [man’amko] are among our priority groups so we decided to launch it here. Because of their advanced age, they are more susceptible to flu,” he explained.

Sasamoto disclosed that the DPH Immunization Program has already received 16,000 of the 19,500 flu shots they ordered from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, using the over $1 million funding they got to purchase vaccines.

The remaining flu shots, he said, are expected to arrive within the week. Sasamoto added that they may also receive an additional 6,000 flu shots from the Department of Defense.

“After that, we’ll target the general public. But if they want the flu shots, they can go to the immunization clinic anytime. No appointment is needed,” said Sasamoto.

Sasamoto said that administering the flu shots now is timely since the flu season is from October to December, with last year’s statistics showing that there were on average 30 flu patients every week from January to October.

In November 2010, however, Sasamoto said there was a flu outbreak in the CNMI as the number of flu patients at the Commonwealth Health Center peaked at 123.

“We had a flu outbreak and we don’t want that happening this year. We are catching it early now,” said Sasamoto, adding that they hope to use all flu shots “before the end of December.”

According to Sasamoto, CHC has been averaging approximately 14 flu patients per week since August. “For this year, we’re good. We’re really low.”

Sasamoto emphasized that one way to prevent the spread of the influenza virus is to “always wash their hands.”

“It’s a simple thing but it helps,” he said. “When sneezing, sneeze on your sleeves or tissue but never on your hands because it spreads the flu that way.”

Aging director Rose Mondala said the immunization program is vital for senior citizens like her. “It’s very important that we get our flu shots once a year. When you’re a man’amko and you get a flu, it’s harder. So it’s really important that we get everyone vaccinated, including the staff.”