This from Jessica Gao, host of The Impact:

A lot of you are asking, “where’s my swine flu shot?” We find out what’s behind the delay in vaccines and how the state is coordinating efforts to reach the most high-risk patients first. State Department of Health Secretary Mary Selecky joins us to talk about progress being made toward getting everyone vaccinated. For more information on where and when H1N1 shots are available, you can visit this website.

Also, last session lawmakers created the Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee to address the disparity between students of color and their white and Asian counterparts. We explore what committee members have learned in the past several months, what solutions they’re coming up with, and how the state’s budget woes may affect change.

The Impact airs tonight at 7 and 10 p.m. on TVW.

Tags: swine flu, The Impact

It’s a big night for TVW – with a jam-packed ‘Impact’ show and the premiere of our special two-part series on education, The Quest for Quality. More on the education series in another blog post coming up.

But first, what’s in store for viewers on tonight’s Impact show:

This week, the state Department of Labor and Industries proposed a 7.6 percent rate increase in workers’ compensation rates for 2010. The state-run insurance program pays benefits to employees who are injured on the job.  Many in the business community say the latest proposed increase is reason enough for lawmakers and the Governor to make changes to the current system.  But the Washington State Labor Council says the state’s workers’ compensation system provides good protection for injured workers at a competitive cost.

Joining us will be Assistant Director for Insurance Services at Labor and Industries, Bob Malooly, and Washington state’s Director for the National Federation of Independent Business, Patrick Connor.

Also on the program – information on how colleges are preparing for any possible outbreaks of the H-1-N-1 virus (also known as the Swine Flu) as students return to campus for the fall semester.  And TVW founders Denny Heck and Stan Marshburn were honored for their work establishing the network. Find out more about the award they received recently in Seattle.

Don’t miss ‘The Impact’, tonight at 7pm on TVW and online: tvw.org

Tags: Business, education, swine flu, The Impact, workers' compensation

Dept. of Health Secretary Mary Selecky and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn joined Austin Jenkins today at the TVW studio and broke in the new “Inside Olympia” set — looks sharp.  Watch both interviews tonight at 7 & 10 p.m.

Selecky said the swine flu doesn’t do what we expect in a flu in that it targets primarily young people.  People born before 1957 might have some immunity to the swine flu, as this breed of flu also made an appearance during the 50s.  Said while hand-washing and other prevention measures aren’t foolproof they do help, and people are paying attention: restrooms at WSU report being out of hand soap.

Randy Dorn talked about the Kent teachers’ strike, education funding, achievement gap and dropouts.  Said the first step in increasing ed funding may be the state paying for student transportation, which he’d like the 2010 legislature to address to take the pressure off local levies.  Also said his 4-year goal is a 3-5% decrease in the state’s dropout rate, currently estimated at 25-35%.

Tags: education, health, mary selecky, randy dorn, Schools, swine flu

Today from 1 to 5 p.m., watch TVW LIVE for the state swine flu summit.

Watch live here.

On the agenda: Gov. Chris Gregoire, Secretary of the Department of Health Mary Selecky, state schools superintendent Randy Dorn, Major Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, the homeland security advisor. In addition, state epidemiologist Tony Marfin MD will host a panel on how H1N1 may affect the community, and another panel will talk about risks, tips, tools and communication.

Tags: swine flu

Check out this handy map at the Department of Health. It tells you where suspected — and confirmed — swine flu cases are across the state, county by county.

As of today, 23 cases have been confirmed. Stay tuned.

Tags: swine flu

Tags: crime, special session, swine flu

Here’s a panel discussion that will air on TVW tonight about the swine flu, featuring Dr. David Fleming, who works for Public Health-Seattle & King County, Dr. Kathy Neuzil with the CDC Committee on Immunization Practices, and Dr. Ann Marie Kimball. It airs on TVW tonight at 8 p.m., but you can also watch it here now.

Tags: swine flu

On The Impact tonight, host Jennifer Huntley has an action-packed 30-minute show. For starters, Mary Selecky, head of the Department of Health, shares more information on the swine flu outbreak.

Here’s a preview:
- She said new swine flu cases will likely show up for months in Washington.
- There are currently about 50 suspected cases here and a dozen confirmed cases.
- Some of the new cases don’t have any direct connection to Mexico. That means it’s spreading person-to-person here.
- Wash your hands and visit the Department of Health swine flu web site for the most up-to-date information. Then wash your hands again!
- Selecky said much more in her interview. Watch The Impact at 7 and 10 tonight on TVW, at tvw.org and right here — I’ll post as soon as it’s available.

Huntley also interviewed Eldon Vail, who heads the Department of Corrections. He said the Legislature made budget and policy decisions that will mean about 9,000 fewer criminals will be supervised next biennium.
- Vail said he supports that decision — he said research shows that it doesn’t pay off.
- He also said the department will likely have to lay off more than 400 people because of cuts.

Like I said, that’s only a fraction of what’s on the show. Tune in tonight.

Tags: crime, special session, swine flu

The Health Department says swine flu is now confirmed in Washington state. There are 38 other states with confirmed cases.

Nine people in Washington have confirmed cases: Seven in King County and one each in Snohomish and Spokane counties.

From the release: “These nine confirmed swine flu cases are the first for Washington since the outbreak began,” said Governor Chris Gregoire. “I have directed Secretary of Health Mary Selecky to continue her agency’s efforts of identifying and preventing swine flu in Washington. And I urge everyone in our state to continue to take everyday precautions as you would for seasonal flu.”

Selecky said in the press release that 99 percent of probably samples are confirmed as swine flu. “As the disease investigation progresses, it appears this new flu strain is similar to seasonal flu in symptoms, treatment, and spread.”

The nine swine flu victims in the state are all recovering.

Again, swine flu symptoms are similar to other flu symptoms, the release says: Fever, aches, cough, respiratory troubles. Have those symptoms? Stay home.

For more information, go here. Or call 1-888-703-4364. For information on the national swine flu status, go here.

And for more swine flu information, watch The Impact tomorrow at 7 and 10 p.m. on TVW. Host Jennifer Huntley will interview Mary Selecky and get the latest details on swine flu in Washington state.

Tags: swine flu

The health department says Washington has six probably swine flu victims: Three in King County, two in Snohomish and one in Spokane County.

“The department is now sending six samples it could not positively sub-type to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing.”

Here’s more from the press release: “Health experts in our state are monitoring the situation and have a well-practiced plan in place,” said Governor Chris Gregoire. “I encourage all Washingtonians to follow the precautionary guidance of health officials and stay informed of the situation through county and state health resources.”

So, if you have muscle aches, trouble breathing or other flu-like symptoms: Stay home from work. And call your doctor. Everyone else: Wash your hands often and well.

Go here for more info.

Tags: swine flu