Maine Liberty Journal

Via WCSH (10/20/2009):

Maine’s Senate president is introducing legislation to make sure that people who get swine flu or some other illness get time off from work to recover, or to take care of family members who get sick.

Sen. Elizabeth Mitchell is announcing introduction of her bill on Tuesday. The Vassalboro Democrat says the idea of the legislation is to prevent the spread of H1N1.

Mitchell’s bill would give employees of larger businesses six paid sick days a year, and employees of smaller businesses three paid days. It would apply to those receiving preventive care or to use in relation to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Legislative leaders voted last week to allow Mitchell’s bill to be introduced during the 2010 session.

Tags: News-state by Editor
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Maine.gov press release (10/19/2009):

Due to a significant outbreak of the H1N1 virus at Bates College in Lewiston Maine, the Director for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention requested Maine Task Force One, a component of the Northern New England Metropolitan Medical Response System, deploy to the campus to assist with the mass vaccination of the student population. A total of 18 embers from Maine Task Force One (Me TF1) deployed to the campus on October 10, 14, and 15 and administered over 1000 H1N1 vaccinations (injections & Flumist) during the deployment.

The entire vaccination clinic was a total success due to the close collaboration between the staff of the Bates College Health Center and the members of Maine Task Force One. The vaccination clinic was held in Chase Hall on the Bates Campus. Staff members from Bates College conducted an initial screening for symptoms of Influenza Like Illness as the students entered the building; the students were then routed to one of two tables in an open foyer where vaccination consent and screening forms were completed. Next the students were directed to one of ten vaccination stations manned by Me TF1 members where they received either the H1N1 Flumist or H1N1 vaccination. The students then were the instructed to rear of the building where a Me TF1 team member was posted to answer any questions the student may have. The average through put time for both the injection and Flumist was 3 minutes.

Tags: Health, Police state by Editor
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Globe and Mail:

A “perplexing” Canadian study linking H1N1 to seasonal flu shots is throwing national influenza plans into disarray and testing public faith in the government agencies responsible for protecting the nation’s health.

Distributed for peer review last week, the study confounded infectious-disease experts in suggesting that people vaccinated against seasonal flu are twice as likely to catch swine flu.

Tags: Health, Vaccines by Editor
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