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October 6, 2009
H1N1 Flu Vaccine
The Hickory County Health Department is expecting the arrival of a limited number of doses of the H1N1 vaccine very soon. The shipment will contain doses of live, attenuated vaccine, commonly known as nasal spray vaccine.
This vaccine is licensed for use in children ages 2 through adults age 49 who do not have any chronic medical conditions. It is not licensed for use in pregnant women, children under the age of 2 years old, adults over 49 or anyone with a chronic medical condition.
This first shipment in Hickory County will be offered to parents or caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age and health care workers at high risk of unexpected exposure. Those receiving the vaccine must have no chronic illnesses or health problems. Persons in these groups who wish to receive the vaccine need to contact the health department now to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine as soon as it arrives.
It is important to remember that more vaccine will soon be available, including the inactivated formulation, or flu shot. This first batch of H1N1 nasal spray vaccine will be quickly used up, but people should remain calm and be patient. More doses are expected to arrive weekly, and as they do, the health department will be able to vaccinate more members of our community against H1N1. The health department will provide updated information about the number of doses arriving, who they are targeted for and what people in those target groups should do to be vaccinated.
In the meantime, people are encouraged to follow proven disease prevention methods such as good hand washing, not touching their face and keeping a distance from others who are sick. People should also stay home when sick to avoid spreading viruses to others.
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