H1N1 vaccine not expected before end of October
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
LarryM@argusobserver.com
Friday, September 11, 2009 11:06 AM PDT
ONTARIO — It is the flu season, and doctors offices, medical clinics and pharmacies are gearing up to offer flu shots.
However, that will not be the case for the H1N1 flu — also known as swine flu. At least not yet.
The H1N1 flu vaccine will not arrive until about the end of October or the first of November, Penny Walters, director of the Malheur County Health Department, said.
While the health department usually encourages people to wait to get their seasonal flu shots until later in the fall, this year it is a different scenario because of H1N1, and health officials encourage people to get the seasonal flu shots as soon as the vaccine is available.
The county health department will start giving flu shots next week.
The department has a supply of seasonal flu vaccine from the state, but that is to be used for people who are not insured or cannot otherwise afford to pay for their shots, Walters said.
However, across the Snake River in Idaho, the seasonal flu vaccine has arrived, according to Laurie Boston, Southwest District Health public information officer. Boston said shots are available at its offices or other clinics.
“We’re making preparations,” Boston said regarding the H1N1 flu vaccines. “We’re having planning meetings every week. We still have questions about how much vaccine we’re going to get.”
The H1N1 flu is of special concern because it has continued to spread during the summer months and because of the potential to spread among school students.
The Malheur County Health Department is scheduled to receive an additional $8,461 to help fund its immunization programs, according to Oregon Department of Human Services documents. Walters confirmed the extra money would be used in H1N1 vaccination programs and it has been estimated about 13,000 people in the county are in the target group, ages 64 and under, which have been found to be more susceptible to this flu.
Unlike seasonal flu vaccine, which can be obtained by several different health care providers, the H1N1 flu vaccine will only be distributed through the county health department, which will be giving it to other health care providers to administer, Walter said.
The H1N1 vaccine was not developed soon enough to be included in the seasonal flu vaccine, and it two doses, may be required.
Larry Meyer is a reporter for the Argus Observer. He can be contacted at LarryM@argusobserver.com or (541) 889-5387, ext. 413 Story ideas are always welcome.
