Influenza Related Contact Information:
The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) has recommended that there be no change to the 2010-11 flu vaccine formulation in the US for the 2011-12 flu season  . The vaccine is good for one season, so those vaccinated in 2010-11 will still need to be vaccinated in 2011-12.
Maine CDC plans to provide seasonal flu vaccine in the 2011-12 season for:
- All Maine children ages 6 months to 18 years-old
- Employees of schools that provide onsite vaccine clinics on school days
- Pregnant women and their partners (through health care providers who routinely care for pregnant women)
- Nursing home employees and residents
- Any underinsured or uninsured adult in any setting (for patients who do not have insurance or whose insurance does not cover vaccines)
- All individuals served by Tribal health centers and Municipal Health Departments
Maine Public Information Hotline for H1N1 Flu: 1-888-257-0990
Maine CDC Emergency Healthcare Professional Hotline 1-800-821-5821
Radio Narrowbanding Updates
Narrowbanding = Reducing the amount of spectrum a radio uses to transmit a message.
In December of 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced requirements to narrowband radio frequencies. We are now quickly approaching the deadline for compliance with that order, January 1st, 2013. By that date all radios & radio systems covered by the narrowband order must be complient with the order. Those failing to be complient will face a cease & desist order on their radio systems and potential fines (up to $10,000) from the FCC.
If your organization holds a license in this frequency range you should check into this further by contacting your radio vendor and/or working with a FCC frequency coordinator. Your local EMA has been instrumental in taking the lead in making the transition to narrowbanding as seemless as possible by setting up informational meetings and contacting radio vendors. Contact your EMA if you haven't done so already.
NIMS Reminder: Hospital employees who may take a leadership role or be part of the Hospital's Incident Command System (ICS) in a hospital disaster or emergency incident have to complete NIMS training. You may go online to www.training.fema.gov to fulfill these requirements.
Maine's Health Alert Network Update: Maine CDC has adopted an easy to use two-way Internet-based alerting and messaging system accessible from anywhere. The Maine Health Alert Network (now known as MaineHAN) provides 24/7/365 up to date alerts and information from Maine’s public health officials. The MaineHAN will be a messaging tool for all public health partners, allowing communication among rural and metro Healthcare Systems professionals, hospitals, health centers, EMS, environmental health, police, fire, National Guard and others. MaineHAN is a secure web based internet site that is as easy to use as email.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness is pleased to announce the roll-out of a new alerting engine for The Maine Health Alert Network (MaineHAN). The new alerting engine, called Response Manager (RM), will dramatically improve our communication during a public health emergency by providing bi-directional, peer-to-peer messaging among first responders and essential public health officials throughout the state as well as the sharing of information on the web portal. On this web portal, users receive, view & confirm messages via telephone, email, fax, alphanumeric pagers, cell phones, and Blackberries and can read news & announcements and access other pertinent links & websites. Your user capabilities will be determined by the license level you have been assigned, either Alerting, Collaboration or Administration. To take full advantage of your license level and to be able to access the RM, you will need to receive training. This can now be accomplished thru Alerting and Collaborating classes now being offered via Webinar. An updated Webinar schedule is now available. To learn more about this exciting new alerting system, contact the Central Maine Regional HAN Administrator at weymouts@cmhc.org or call the Resource Center at 795-2920 for additional information. If you have already signed up and have a profile and an account, click here to access The HAN web link
For upcoming events, listings & trainings see the Events Page
To view recent activities see the News Page
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