[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - H1N1 Vaccine in Boone County

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2009
Contact:
Geni Alexander, Public Information Officer
gaalexan at GoColumbiaMo.com or 573.874.7632
 
First Shipment of H1N1 Vaccine Arrives in Boone County
 
The first shipment of H1N1 vaccine arrived in Boone County today. The
shipment contained 900 doses of live, attenuated vaccine, commonly known
as nasal spray vaccine, or FluMist®.
 
This vaccine is licensed for use in children ages 2 through adults age
49 who do not have any chronic medical conditions. It is not licensed
for use in pregnant women, children under the age of 2, adults over 49
or anyone with a chronic medical condition. 
 
This first shipment will be offered to family medicine physicians,
pediatricians and some health care workers. Because FluMist® is approved
for healthy children over the age of 2, parents of children ages 2-4 may
begin calling their child’s health care provider today for an update on
vaccine availability. Health care workers should contact their
employers.
 
During the first weeks, H1N1 vaccine will be available in limited
supplies and healthcare providers are encouraged to offer the vaccine to
these narrow 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 with direct
patient contact, 
children 6 months through 4 years of age, and 
children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical
conditions.

 
“It is important to remember that more vaccine will soon be available,
including the inactivated formulation, or flu shot,” says director of
health Stephanie Browning. “This first batch of H1N1 nasal spray vaccine
will be quickly used up, but people should be patient. We expect more
doses to arrive weekly, and as they do, we will be able to vaccinate
more members of our community against H1N1.”
 
The health department will provide updated information on our website,
which can be accessed through the city’s website at www.GoColumbiaMo.com
( http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ ). Citizens should follow links to the
health department’s page. 
 
In the meantime, people are encouraged to follow proven disease
prevention methods such as good hand washing, not touching their face
and keeping a distance from others who are sick. People should also stay
home when sick to avoid spreading viruses to others.
 
For more information, contact the Boone County Department of Public
Health and Human Services at 573.874.7355 or visit www.FightTheFluMO.com
( http://www.fighttheflumo.com/ ) for a statewide flu clinic calendar.
 
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