November 13, 2009

H1N1 Vaccine Availability for Week Four

The Central District Health Department (CDHD) will have 2500 doses of vaccine available for the Point of Dispensing (POD) operation scheduled for Saturday November 14th at the former Comp USA store at 1195 N Milwaukee Street, Boise. All of the vaccine will be in the injectable form. No nasal spray vaccine will be offered. The vaccine supply includes 500 doses of vaccine for children 6 to 35 months of age, 300 doses for children 3 years and up, and 1700 doses for children and adults 4 years and up.

The POD will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., unless the vaccine supply on hand is exhausted before 2:00 p.m. The POD is open to those considered at greatest risk of serious complications of influenza infection.

Priority groups include:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
• People 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

CDHD will provide hourly updates of vaccine availability on its website Saturday (www.cdhd.idaho.gov). The Flu Hotline (321-2222) will also be staffed from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday to answer questions from the public on flu-related topics, including vaccine availability.

CDHD remains focused on reaching Priority Groups and will assess public interest following the POD operations Saturday to help determine future strategies. Under consideration is an expansion of school-based vaccination programs, more vaccine distribution to private providers and pharmacies, and appointments at district immunizations clinics.

Current information on the H1N1 flu is posted to the CDHD website daily at www.cdhd.idaho.gov and is provided through the CDHD Flu Hotline at 321-2222, which is staffed 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and this Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.