Boone County Public Health is starting to receive the H1N1 vaccine. “Allocation of the vaccine to Boone County is being determined by the state according to population,” said Vicki McCambridge, Boone County Public Health Director. Vaccine will continue to arrive in Boone County through the winter months.
As for who should receive the vaccine, Boone County is following CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines, which state the H1N1 vaccine should first be made available to the following priority groups:
• pregnant women,
• people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,
• health care and emergency medical services personnel,
• persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and
• people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine can be given at the same time and at any time in any sequence with one exception: if using the live nasal spray vaccine for both the seasonal flu and H1N1, they must be given 4 weeks apart to ensure the best protection from both vaccines.
In addition, it remains important to take personal actions to prevent the spread of the virus:
• Cover your cough,
• Clean your hands, and
• Contain germs by staying home when ill.
Boone County Public Health is working with Boone County schools to provide the H1N1 vaccine to students. Schools will be sending information home with each student regarding information about this vaccine and when it will be given. Even though H1N1 is a new virus, the vaccine used to prevent this flu is made using the same manufacturing process and suppliers as the seasonal flu vaccine. Every year the seasonal flu vaccine changes based on what viruses they expect to see the following flu season. Because the H1N1 virus is new, it was not able to be included with the seasonal flu vaccine this year. There is no reason to believe there are any more risks associated with the H1N1 vaccine than the seasonal influenza vaccine. Receiving the vaccination is an effective way to help fight the spread of the virus.
If you would like to schedule your H1N1 vaccine and you are in one of the above priority groups, call Boone County Public Health at 432-1127. Those who are 25 to 64 years of age with chronic health conditions putting them at high risk for H1N1 are encouraged to get their vaccination through their personal physician. Doctors offices will soon be receiving the vaccine.
If you are still in need of your seasonal flu vaccine, watch the local newspaper and the Boone County Hospital website at www.boonehospital.com for upcoming dates, times and locations.
A statewide toll-free hotline has been established for public questions about seasonal and H1N1 influenza at 1-800-447-1985. More information can also be found at www.idph.state.ia.us and on the Boone County Hospital website under FastCommand. |