Swine flu shot clinics set
newsroom@idahopress.com
Thursday, October 15th, 2009
CANYON COUNTY — Southwest District Health officials will hold H1N1 swine flu mass vaccination clinics starting Saturday.
The first clinic in Canyon County is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or as long as the initial supply of vaccine lasts.
"This is changing day by day and week by week," Southwest District Health spokeswoman Laurie Boston said about vaccine clinic plans.
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The Saturday clinic will be held at the former Sportsman's Warehouse, 16865 Marketplace Blvd., in Nampa. It's located near Interstate 84 and Karcher Road behind McDonald's. No appointment is necessary, and the vaccine will be provided on a first-come, first served basis at no cost.
Additional clinics will be held at the same location from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, and from 2 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 23.
Both H1N1 live, weakened flu nasal spray vaccine and H1N1 inactivated vaccine injections will be offered to the priority groups as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Priority groups include:
- Pregnant women
- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
- Persons between 6 months and 24 years old
- People ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
Krosch said Southwest District Health expects to receive a vaccine supply every week through November, but is scheduling the vaccination clinics before the entire supply of vaccine is received. Each of the six counties the health district serves will offer clinics in the venues that are most convenient for their community.
"We are also asking the public for their patience," Krosch said. "We are offering this vaccine to (the public) as soon as we received ample supplies. We expect to receive a supply every week, but we may run out at any of our vaccination clinics. If this happens, you can come to the next scheduled clinic."
Health officials are also suggesting that residents consider a four-week interval between receiving seasonal flu nasal spray and H1N1 nasal spray. Any combination of injection and nasal spray can be administered without a timing consideration.
Swine flu Q&A
Q: What should I know about flu vaccinations?
A: Both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines will be made available in two forms:
- The "flu shot" — an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The seasonal flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
- The nasal-spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine"). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Q: Who can use the nasal spray flu vaccine?
A: Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high-risk group. The one exception is healthy persons who care for persons with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected environment; these healthy persons should get the inactivated flu vaccine.
Q: What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 virus in people?
A: The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.
Middleton, Emmett students can get shots
By Sharon Strauss
sstrauss@idahopress.com
CANYON COUNTY — Schoolchildren in Middleton and Emmett districts will be offered H1N1 vaccines on campus in coming weeks.
Students in other districts can get swine flu vaccine at public clinics that are scheduled for the next three Saturdays in Canyon County, if vaccine supplies last that long.
The Middleton district is expecting about 2,000 doses of nasal spray vaccine and more doses for the public. Parents who want their children inoculated at school need to sign and return permission forms that were sent home.
The vaccines will be administered to Middleton elementary students on Nov. 2, high school students Nov. 3 and 4, and middle school students Nov. 5. A community vaccination clinic is planned for the evening of Nov. 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Middleton High School.
About 50 kids were out of school because of illness Tuesday, Middleton school district nurse Merrilyn Jefferies said. On average, 15 to 17 students are out sick on a typical day, she said. Jefferies said she knows of at least 20 students who contracted H1N1-type flu, but that number is probably higher because not all parents seek diagnosis when their children come down with the symptoms.
Emmett parents will also be able to request vaccinations during the school day for their children during the next few weeks, a district official said.
People up to age 24 are given priority, along with those ages 25 to 64 who have underlying medical conditions and pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age, health care workers and emergency medical providers.
H1N1 virus update
Infections and hospitalizations: Only a small portion of people infected with influenza are tested and receive laboratory confirmation. The Idaho Bureau of Laboratories is only testing people who are hospitalized or high-risk for flu complications, although private labs are submitting results for positive cases. Lab confirmed reports are an indicator of flu activity, but portray only a fraction of total infections. The overall number of laboratory-confirmed infections continues to increase, along with the number of people hospitalized for H1N1 infections. During the past week, 100 additional laboratory confirmed infections have been reported, with 27 hospitalizations during the week.
Deaths: H1N1 infections have contributed to the deaths of four Idahoans. One of those deaths was reported during the last week, a Canyon County woman in her 50s. All four victims had underlying health conditions.
Recommendations
- With widespread flu activity, people with mild illnesses are urged not to visit hospital emergency rooms. Emergency room resources should only be used for people suffering severe symptoms or other health emergency.
- People with flu symptoms are asked to help protect other people by going home and staying home until fever subsides for at least 24 hours.
