Published: October 29, 2009 08:08 pm      

H1N1 vaccine received in county

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A limited shipment of H1N1 vaccine has been received in Jefferson County, according to Jefferson County Health Department Administrator Mark Stevens.

“The vaccine administered by the Health Department will be free of charge and only given at specified H1N1 clinics,” information from Stevens states. “We will only be doing the H1N1 vaccine at these special clinics and will not be giving H1N1 vaccine during regular health department hours.”

Stevens stated clinics are being scheduled, and should be in place by the end of next week.

The department has received a “very small” shipment of the injectable H1N1 flu vaccine, but still has not received any preservative-free injectable vaccine.

According to Judy McLaughlin of the Health Department, the preservative free vaccine does not contain the preservative thimerosal.

“Usually for infants and pregnant women, we would give the single dose that is thimerosal free,” McLaughlin explained. “There is a tiny amount of thimerosal in the injectable as a preservative.”

McLaughlin said infants and pregnant women can take the shot with the preservative, but recommends parents and pregnant women speak with their doctor first.

Although a small amount of the vaccine has been received at this time, health officials are expecting that this is just the first shipment.

“It is anticipated that we will receive an adequate supply of vaccine in the coming weeks and months, so there will be enough vaccine to go around,” information states.

Because of the limited supply of H1N1 vaccine at this time, the department will be offering vaccinations in accordance with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines to those who have the most risk of complications from the 2009 H1N1 flu: Pregnant women; those who live with or provide care for infants under the age of six months such as parents, siblings and day care providers; health care and emergency medical services personnel; those who are between the ages of six months and 24 years old; and those who are between the ages of 25 years and 64 years with medical conditions that are associated with a higher risk of flu complications.

McLaughlin said the Jefferson County Health Department is still waiting for another shipment of seasonal flu vaccine. The department ran out of the vaccine weeks ago, and have canceled clinics until more come in, including a vaccination clinic scheduled at the Mt. Vernon Conference.

“We’re expecting the shipment at any time,” McLaughlin said. “Once we get our vaccine for seasonal flu, we’ll let people know.”

When the H1N1 vaccine clinics are scheduled, residents are asked not to come to the clinics if they are ill or experiencing any flulike symptoms.

“Vaccine is not treatment,” information states. “For your benefit, you should wait until you are well to receive your vaccine.”

In the meantime, residents are being encouraged to continue to take preventative measures and practice good hygiene to avoid becoming sick and spreading illness. Non-medical information about the H1N1 virus is available by contacting the Illinois Flu Hotline at 866-848-2034 or at www.flu.gov or www.ready.illinois.gov.