Now Taking Your Calls: Swine Flu Hotline

Two of the busiest people in Connecticut right now are the people working the Connecticut River Area Health District’s H1N1 Vaccination hotline.

Since it opened on Wednesday morning, the phones have been ringing and the people answering them don’t have time to take a breath between calls. 

The callers are concerned because the second wave of the swine flu pandemic has hit, closing schools and forcing hospitals to change visitation policies.

Three people have died in the past two months and officials from the state Department of Public Health expect this wave to last six to 12 weeks.

Another major concern is that many medical professionals are without the vaccines because supplies are limited. As of Thursday morning, the state had received just under 179,000 doses of the 500,000 we were supposed to receive.

The limited supply is why the hotline was created, the first municipal/ regional call center of its kind in Connecticut.

“Our regional health district was inundated with calls on the H1N1 flu, to the point they couldn't do their normal jobs,” Chief Michael Spera, of the Old Saybrook police, said.

He was talking about hundred and hundreds of calls each day, many from moms asking about where swine flu clinics would be held.

The hotline is for residents of Old Saybrook, Clinton, Deep River, Westbrook, Killingworth, Essex, and Chester to learn where to get the swine flu vaccine, and also to leaves their names and get a call back when the vaccine becomes available. After 10 hours, the hotline took 536 names of people signed up for the vaccine.

“They're closing schools. People are really concerned about the lack of how many vaccines came in,” Sheila Myers, of Essex, said.

Laura Matesky, of Ivoryton, said they didn't have enough flu vaccine again so now clinics are being canceled.

Because of the shortage, the Ledge Light Health District is now handing out flu prevention toolboxes, which contain a disposable thermometer, tissues and a sanitary wipe.

The numbers are 860-395-3045 or 395-3046.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health also launched a public hotline on Oct. 5 and it's staffed by DPH representatives who are ready to answer questions about the virus and the vaccine. The number is 1-800-830-9426. It's open Monday Through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.