Announces California Received First Shipment of H1N1 Vaccine

http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/13476/

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued Executive Order S-22-09 (EO) to support and facilitate California’s aggressive approach to addressing the spread of the H1N1 flu virus also known as the swine flu. The Governor’s EO ensures the state has the flexibility to respond to a potential flu crisis by renewing the ability for departments to cut through contracting red tape to obtain goods and services to fight the spread of the H1N1 virus. With the EO, the state will be able to acquire services faster such as medical staff for state facilities and transportation of H1N1 vaccine and goods such as hand sanitizer and paper masks.



“California stands ready to combat what could be a very severe flu season with the threat of H1N1,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Today’s action will make sure California has the ability to continue to aggressively fight the spread of the H1N1 virus by cutting red tape and giving the state greater flexibility to respond to an outbreak. The state of California is taking the H1N1 virus very seriously, and I urge every Californian to take it seriously too.”



The Governor also announced today that California has received its first statewide shipment of the H1N1 vaccine from the federal government. Vaccination is the most effective prevention measure from the virus. These initial doses are targeted at children, and many more doses will be arriving in the days and weeks ahead. The state’s health officials expect there will eventually be enough vaccine for all Californians in the CDC priority groups.



State public health and emergency response officials have been planning for the further escalation of the disease and the distribution of vaccines. This includes expanding surveillance to detect increased pandemic activity, continuing development of clear guidelines for the public, working with local health departments to ensure health care facilities can respond to a surge in the need for patient care, and strengthening communication lines with medical providers and the public to get out information. The federal government has begun distributing H1N1 vaccines to California and CDPH continues to work with federal and local partners on California’s vaccination program.



It is the Governor’s top priority to limit the spread of the H1N1 virus as quickly and effectively as possible. The Governor and his Administration have taken the following actions to combat the spread of the H1N1 virus:

· Proclaimed a State of Emergency in April to support and facilitate our state health departments’ response to the H1N1 virus outbreak.

· In April, California became the first state in the nation to do its own confirmatory testing for the H1N1 flu virus without having to send samples to the Centers for Disease Control, greatly speeding up detection efforts in the state.

· Launched the Web site (www.CalPanFlu.org) to register doctors, clinicians and other professionals who will provide vaccinations for the H1N1 virus.

· Urged Californians to prepare for the upcoming flu season and challenged Californians to enter the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Film Fest – to enter the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Film Fest – “Lights, Camera, Save Lives” - a competition to create a short video highlighting the steps to avoid H1N1 and seasonal flu.



Governor Schwarzenegger continues to urge all Californians to be diligent in preventing the further spread of the flu. Everyday actions that can be taken to help protect against and prevent the spread of germs that cause the flu include:

· 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. 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.

· Stay home if you are sick for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.



The full text of the EO is below:



EXECUTIVE ORDER S-22-09





WHEREAS on April 28, 2009, following a report from the World Health Organization that an outbreak of H1N1 Influenza in Mexico had caused multiple deaths and confirmation from the United States Center for Disease Control of cases of the disease in California, I proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in the State of California; and



WHEREAS the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a nationwide public health emergency as a consequence of confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza in the United States; and



WHEREAS the World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for the H1N1 Influenza Virus to phase 6; and



WHEREAS the H1N1 Influenza virus has now spread throughout the world and cases have been reported in all California counties; and



WHEREAS public and private schools from the kindergarten through the university levels have resumed classes for the fall semester; and



WHEREAS the fall and winter seasons of colder weather during which influenza is more easily spread are approaching; and



WHEREAS the H1N1 Influenza strain disproportionately affects younger persons; and



WHEREAS vaccines have been developed to provide immunity against H1N1 infection; and



WHEREAS the federal government started distributing H1N1 vaccines at the beginning of October, 2009 to the California Department of Public Health for allocation to local distribution points; and



WHEREAS there will not be sufficient vaccine initially to vaccinate all Californians, and vaccine will first be allocated for administration to priority target populations to minimize the spread of H1N1 Influenza and to reduce the potential for morbidity and mortality from the virus; and



WHEREAS it is essential that the public, including healthcare practitioners, be informed about the H1N1 Influenza, the need to observe hygiene and other practices to prevent the spread of the virus, the vaccines, the vaccination program, and the importance of receiving a vaccination when vaccine becomes available for each target population; and



WHEREAS a large number of contracts will need to be executed in a very short time to carry out activities to respond to the H1N1 Influenza pandemic, including but not limited to the distribution of vaccine, as well as the tracking of vaccine administration and other activities related to the program to immunize all Californians; and



WHEREAS the State of Emergency proclaimed on April 28, 2009 continues to exist, and it is essential in order to mitigate the effects of that emergency to issue orders to facilitate emergency response.



NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the State of California, including the Emergency Services Act and in particular Government Code sections 8567 and 8571, do hereby issue the following orders to become effective immediately:

IT IS ORDERED THAT that all agencies and departments of state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities as necessary to assist the California Department of Public Health and the Emergency Medical Services Authority in immediately performing any and all activities designed to distribute vaccine, to administer and monitor vaccinations, and take such other actions as these agencies deem necessary to carry out an effective vaccination program, consistent with the State Emergency Plan as coordinated by the California Emergency Management Agency.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the California Health and Human Services Agency and all departments and offices within that agency, as well as the California Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Highway Patrol, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Department of General Services, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation enter into such contracts as they deem appropriate to provide services, material, personnel and equipment for the purpose of responding to the H1N1 Influenza pandemic; including, but not limited to, distributing vaccine, administering and monitoring vaccinations, and supplementing the extraordinary preventive measures implemented by local jurisdictions if needed.



IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Government Code sections 8567 and 8571, the provisions of the Government Code, the Public Contract Code, the State Contracting Manual and Management Memo 03-10, and all policies applicable to state contracts for all agencies and departments of state government, including, but not limited to, advertising and competitive bidding requirements and approvals for non-competitively bid contracts, are hereby temporarily suspended with respect to contracts to provide services, material, personnel and equipment to distribute vaccine, to administer and monitor vaccinations, and take such other actions as the California Health and Human Services Agency and all departments and offices within that agency, as well as the California Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Highway Patrol, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Department of General Services, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation deem necessary to carry out an effective vaccination program and such other measures as may be necessary to respond to the H1N1 Influenza pandemic, to the extent that such laws would prevent, hinder, or delay prompt mitigation of the effects of this emergency.


IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Government Code section 8567 to ensure adequate availability of technical personnel, I am invoking Standby Order Number 1, which waives the period of time permissible for emergency appointments for the hiring of necessary emergency personnel.



This Order is not intended to create, and does not create, any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees or any other person.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given to this Order.