ATU Urges Members, Transit Systems to Take Precautions to Avoid H1N1
Both the U.S. and Canada are in the initial stages of distributing the H1N1 flu vaccine. Officials have warned that as much as half of the population could become infected with the H1N1 virus.
Given the vast number of people that ATU members come in contact with every day, ATU members could be at high risk for catching and spreading the virus. The ATU is urging its members to take precautions, and if possible, to get both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations. The ATU is also urging all ATU employers, including transit systems, school transportation providers, and intercity bus companies, to take the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees and passengers.
The ATU also urges all of its members to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to them in their area. Below is guidance on who will receive initial priority for the vaccines in the U.S. and Canada. Members should stay up to date with their local health departments as they are the ultimate decision makers regarding epidemics and mitigation on the local level.
H1N1 Vaccine in the United States
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued specific guidelines for local health departments to follow in distributing the vaccine.
Specifically, the CDC has recommended that five initial target groups be given priority. The target groups, which comprise an estimated 159 million persons in the U.S., are:
• Pregnant women;
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants under the age of 6 months (e.g. parents, siblings,
and daycare providers);
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel;
• Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years; and
• Persons between the ages of 25 and 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher
risk for influenza-related complications.
Should initial supply of the vaccine be inadequate to meet the demand among the five target groups, CDC has identified five sub-groups that should be given priority until the supply increases. The sub-groups, comprising approximately 42 million persons in the U.S., are:
• Pregnant women;
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants under the age of 6 months (e.g. parents, siblings,
and daycare providers);
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or
infectious material;
• Children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years;
• Children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 18 years who have medical conditions that
put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
Once the demand from the initial target groups has been met at the local level, the CDC is urging local health officials to expand vaccinations to all persons between the ages of 25 and 64 years of age. According to the CDC, current studies indicate the risk of infection among persons who are 65 years or older is less than the risk for persons in younger age groups. According to the CDC, vaccinations should only be expanded to persons 65 years or older once the demand for younger groups is met.
H1N1 Vaccine in Canada
The Government of Canada also issued guidance for provinces and territories on H1N1 vaccine sequencing. The guidance identifies groups and individuals that will benefit most from immunization, and those who care for them. These include:
• people with chronic medical conditions under the age of 65;
• pregnant women;
• children six months to under five years of age;
• people living in remote and isolated settings or communities;
• health care workers involved in pandemic response or who deliver essential health services;
• household contacts and caregivers of individuals who are at high risk, and who cannot be immunized
(such as infants under six months of ago or people with weakened immune systems; and populations
otherwise identified as high risk.
The above groups are not listed in priority sequence. Provinces and territories are expected to use the guidance for planning purposes and will interpret it based on local circumstances and realities. The ATU Canadian Council has urged health officials to include transit workers in the priority sequence.
Take Precautions Against H1N1
Spread of the H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something - such as a surface or object - with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
The CDC recommends taking these everyday steps to protect your health and prevent the spread of the virus:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash
after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water
are not available, alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except
to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-
reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
For more on these recommendations and the spread of H1N1, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
Public Transportation Systems Should Take Precautions
The ATU is urging all ATU employers, including school bus companies, transit systems, intercity bus operators, and paratransit providers, to take the necessary precautions to protect ATU members and their passengers.
Among other things, employers should thoroughly clean facilities, vehicle and fare vending equipment with high-grade germicidal solutions on a daily basis and should provider drivers with alcohol-based hand cleaners.