October 7, 2009

CDHD Out of Seasonal Flu Vaccine

The Central District Health Department (CDHD) has exhausted its supply of children’s seasonal flu vaccine and is encouraging the public to seek the vaccine from other providers in the community. Vaccine manufacturers have been concentrating on production of the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine and as a result there are fewer doses of seasonal vaccine available. No new shipments of seasonal flu vaccine are expected until mid-November.

CDHD stopped offering adult vaccination services as of March first of this year, including the seasonal flu vaccine. CDHD offers children’s vaccinations, but is without seasonal flu vaccine at this time.

H1N1 Vaccine

CDHD has received the first small delivery of H1N1 flu vaccine. But the shipment didn’t include enough doses for the health district to execute plans for large scale vaccination clinics. Within the next few weeks Central District Health will be setting up Points of Dispensing (PODs) for the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine, but will initially target only priority groups that include:

• Pregnant women.
• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age.
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel.
• All people from 6 months to 24 years of age.
• Persons aged 25 through 64 who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from the flu.

Once a good percentage of the priority groups have been vaccinated CDHD will make the vaccine more broadly available in the community through health providers and through special flu clinics at the three district offices in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home.

Until supplies of both seasonal and H1N1 vaccines are available there are some simple things everyone can do to reduce the chances of getting the flu:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after coughing or sneezing; after caring for a sick person, after using the bathroom or changing a diaper; and before you eat.
• Cover your cough and sneeze with tissues or by coughing into the inside of your elbow or sleeve. Dispose used tissues in the trash immediately.
• Stay home if you are sick and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Don’t return to work or school until free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
• Avoid contact with those who are sick.
• Don’t share food utensils or beverages with others.
• Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get plenty of rest.

More information on the flu and vaccine availability can be found on the CDHD website or by calling the CDHD Flu Hotline 321-2222.