11/4/2009

The first 200 doses of H1N1 nasal spray vaccine have arrived in Plumas County.

This first shipment of H1N1 will be reserved for household contacts or caregivers of infants younger than 6 months, and household contacts of pregnant women. The nasal spray vaccine is only for healthy people between 2 and 49 who are not pregnant.

When more H1N1 vaccine arrives, it will be offered first to those most at risk for serious illness from H1N1. In general, the order of priority will be from youngest to oldest, and those with chronic health conditions. In California and the U.S., children under 4 years have the highest rate of hospitalization from H1N1 flu.
H1N1 flu clinics are planned at community outreach clinics, K-12 schools, Feather River College and drive through flu clinics. They will be scheduled and announced as soon as supplies of vaccine arrive. So far, vaccine supply has been variable and unpredictable.

There is a national shortage of preservative free H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women and children under 3. Because the risks are great for these groups, California has an exemption to the law limiting certain amounts of mercury (used as a preservative) in vaccines. The exemption is until Nov. 30, and will allow pregnant women and children under three to get the earliest available H1N1 flu “shot” with preservative.
 

Seasonal Flu vs. H1N1 Flu Vaccine: Who should get what and when, to be posted on website and widely distributed.

Ninety-nine percent of all flu cases in California at this time are H1N1 flu, not seasonal flu. Doctors will not regularly test for H1N1, except for hospitalized cases, because a test will not change treatment decisions. Doctors will decide if antiviral medicines to help treat flu are right for you.

Nationwide in the last week, doctor’s visits and hospitalizations from H1N1 are climbing. In California, there have been a total of 233 H1N1 deaths, 45 of which occurred between Sept. 27 and Oct. 17.
For more information go to the California Department of Public Health website, cdph.ca.gov; or flu.gov, which offers one-stop access to U.S. government H1N1, avian and pandemic flu information.

Send questions or concerns to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or also call PCPHA at 283-6330 or (800) 801-6330.