October Was Flu Vaccine Month in the Upper Valley

Medical students from the Geisel School of Medicine provide free flu vaccines in Bradford, VT.

This fall in the Upper Valley there have been many opportunities for residents to get seasonal flu vaccine. This year, getting vaccinated against the flu is more important than ever. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot afford to overburden the health care system with flu-related hospitalizations. Also, because the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it is difficult to distinguish the two infections and health care providers may use scarce resources assuming cases are COVID-19 when they are not.

Fortunately, it appears many Upper Valley residents have heeded the warning and gotten their vaccine. Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the Vermont Department of Health both report higher numbers of vaccines given this year over recent years. The Public Health Council is proud to have been part of this effort, providing over 1,350 free flu vaccines in five community drive-thru clinics during the month of October.

This was a true collaborative effort and we want to thank the partners who made these clinics possible. Thank you to the 99 students from the Geisel School of Medicine who volunteered 514 hours of service to administer vaccines. To Dr. Annika Brown who trained the students and recruited eleven of her colleagues from Dartmouth-Hitchcock to supervise the clinics. To Dartmouth-Hitchcock for donating vaccines and clinical supplies. To Novo Nordisk and the Lebanon Rotary Club for providing grants to cover expenses of setting up outdoor clinics. To community partners who helped coordinate and staff the clinics:

• Creigh Moffett of Rivendell Academy
• Stephanie Schell of Plainfield
• Phil Neily of the Town of Enfield
• Little Rivers Health Care
• Canaan Elementary School
• Canaan Fire Department.
• Members of the Lebanon and Cohase Rotary Clubs who staffed our registration tents.

Cars line up for flu vaccine in Orford.

We are certain to have missed someone on this list of partners because we received so very much support. Our oversight does not diminish our gratitude.

May the seasonal flu vaccine effort next year be less complicated by other factors. But may we never forget how fortunate we are in the Upper Valley to have so many partners working together to protect our community’s health.

Sincerely,

Alice Ely, Executive Director
Rudy Fedrizzi, Board Chair

Other News About Seasonal Flu Vaccine from Around the Region

From Weekly VT Governor’s Report (submitted 10-13-2020): Bi-State Collaboration to Combat Flu

“For the past 10+ weeks the White River Junction District has been engaged in a bi-state working group to expand flu vaccination.  This effort includes representation from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and its affiliates, Geisel Medical School, Visiting Nurse Associations, the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley, the Upper Valley Medical Reserve Corps (also a bi-state group), and the Vermont Department of Health.  Already flu uptake is exceeding previous year volumes.  VT school flu clinics in collaboration with local provider groups like those of Little River Healthcare and Gifford Pediatrics are more robust this year with many providing immunizations to school staff. ”

Dr. Annika Brown and Geisel students prepare flu vaccines in Enfield.

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