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About half of H1N1 vaccine used at Willcox clinic
By Ainslee S. Wittig /Arizona Range News
Just over half of the vaccine available at Cochise County Health Department's Willcox H1N1 vaccination clinic last Wednesday was used, said Vaira Harik, director of the Cochise County Health Department in Bisbee.
She said the clinic was set up specifically for children ages 5-18 because it is crucial to vaccinate the population "at high risk."
In Willcox last Wednesday, 219 children were vaccinated - 191 by nasal spray and 28 by injection, Harik said.
"That was less than the 400 (vaccinations) we had on hand," she said. "I attribute that to, well, I'm not sure, but people are still realizing it's important to get this vaccine."
Cold, windy weather may have deterred some; however Harik moved the lines indoor at the Cochise County Building.
The Health Department announced the continuation of its H1N1 vaccinations with two more clinics this week.
These clinics will accept patients in the Tier 1 Priority Group and healthy children aged 5 through 18 years of age.
The first clinic is in Willcox Thursday, Nov. 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Willcox Community Center, 312 W. Stewart St.
The second is in Sierra Vista on Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at Buena High School Gymnasium, 5225 E. Buena School Blvd.
Clinics in additional communities next week will be announced shortly, Harik said.
All H1N1 vaccinations given by the Health Department are free and doses will be administered on a first come, first served basis.
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Tier 1 Priority Group for Vaccination:
Pregnant women,
Children aged 6 months to 4 years,
Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers),
Health-care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material,
Children and adolescents aged 5 to18 years that have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications (e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart or lung conditions, and suppressed immune system).
Both nasal spray and injectable formulations of the vaccine will be available, Harik said, adding that vaccine will not be administered to patients who are sick with fever or have flu-like symptoms, that are allergic to eggs, or that have received a nasal mist seasonal flu vaccination within the past 30 days. Potential recipients will be further screened at the clinic.
All parents are asked to bring their children's immunization records (the VFC "Blue Card") with them.
For patients with underlying medical conditions the Health Department suggests that they bring with them information that confirms their diagnosis. This will allow clinical staff to determine the formulation of the vaccine they should receive.
According to the CDC, underlying medical conditions include, but are not limited to: immune suppression, pregnancy, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma or other problems of the lungs, sickle cell disease, and those on long-term aspirin therapy for chronic disorders. In addition, children with any condition that affects respiratory function including neurological conditions such as intellectual and developmental disability, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, metabolic conditions or other neuromuscular disorders have higher risk.
Harik said, "We are continuing to offer the vaccine to the groups that are identified as being at high risk for illness from H1N1. Last week we held clinics in five different towns. They went very smoothly and we had enough vaccine available. We are now concentrating on Tier 1 patients as well as all school-aged children from 5 through 18 years of age."
In addition to Health Department vaccination clinics, H1N1 vaccine has also been distributed to hospitals and private providers in Cochise County.
"It is important to emphasize that the availability of vaccine has improved in the past week, but continues to be minimal and unpredictable, both nationally and here in Cochise County," Harik said. "We are very appreciative of the patience and cooperation that our community is showing. Not knowing how much vaccine is coming on a weekly basis is a challenge that all Health Departments in Arizona are facing right now."
Eventually, there will be enough vaccine available for all who wish to be vaccinated, she said.
A poll conducted by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and Eight/KAET asked questions about flu vaccinations.
The poll found that while 58 percent of the state's voters say they will get a seasonal flu shot this year, only 41 percent said they would get a swine flu vaccination when adequate swine flu vaccine is available.
The statewide sample of 652 registered voters was 37 percent Republican, 34 percent Democrat and 29 percent Independent.
-Updated information about swine flu in the US can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
-Arizona-specific information about swine flu can be found at http://www.azdhs.gov/flu/h1n1/.
-Cochise County will publish updates, as needed, on its website at http://cochise.az.gov/h1n1.
Basic clinic information can be found at the Health Department's H1N1 Hotline at 520-432-9410.
She said the clinic was set up specifically for children ages 5-18 because it is crucial to vaccinate the population "at high risk."
In Willcox last Wednesday, 219 children were vaccinated - 191 by nasal spray and 28 by injection, Harik said.
"That was less than the 400 (vaccinations) we had on hand," she said. "I attribute that to, well, I'm not sure, but people are still realizing it's important to get this vaccine."
Cold, windy weather may have deterred some; however Harik moved the lines indoor at the Cochise County Building.
The Health Department announced the continuation of its H1N1 vaccinations with two more clinics this week.
These clinics will accept patients in the Tier 1 Priority Group and healthy children aged 5 through 18 years of age.
The first clinic is in Willcox Thursday, Nov. 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Willcox Community Center, 312 W. Stewart St.
The second is in Sierra Vista on Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at Buena High School Gymnasium, 5225 E. Buena School Blvd.
Clinics in additional communities next week will be announced shortly, Harik said.
All H1N1 vaccinations given by the Health Department are free and doses will be administered on a first come, first served basis.
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Tier 1 Priority Group for Vaccination:
Both nasal spray and injectable formulations of the vaccine will be available, Harik said, adding that vaccine will not be administered to patients who are sick with fever or have flu-like symptoms, that are allergic to eggs, or that have received a nasal mist seasonal flu vaccination within the past 30 days. Potential recipients will be further screened at the clinic.
All parents are asked to bring their children's immunization records (the VFC "Blue Card") with them.
For patients with underlying medical conditions the Health Department suggests that they bring with them information that confirms their diagnosis. This will allow clinical staff to determine the formulation of the vaccine they should receive.
According to the CDC, underlying medical conditions include, but are not limited to: immune suppression, pregnancy, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma or other problems of the lungs, sickle cell disease, and those on long-term aspirin therapy for chronic disorders. In addition, children with any condition that affects respiratory function including neurological conditions such as intellectual and developmental disability, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, metabolic conditions or other neuromuscular disorders have higher risk.
Harik said, "We are continuing to offer the vaccine to the groups that are identified as being at high risk for illness from H1N1. Last week we held clinics in five different towns. They went very smoothly and we had enough vaccine available. We are now concentrating on Tier 1 patients as well as all school-aged children from 5 through 18 years of age."
In addition to Health Department vaccination clinics, H1N1 vaccine has also been distributed to hospitals and private providers in Cochise County.
"It is important to emphasize that the availability of vaccine has improved in the past week, but continues to be minimal and unpredictable, both nationally and here in Cochise County," Harik said. "We are very appreciative of the patience and cooperation that our community is showing. Not knowing how much vaccine is coming on a weekly basis is a challenge that all Health Departments in Arizona are facing right now."
Eventually, there will be enough vaccine available for all who wish to be vaccinated, she said.
A poll conducted by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and Eight/KAET asked questions about flu vaccinations.
The poll found that while 58 percent of the state's voters say they will get a seasonal flu shot this year, only 41 percent said they would get a swine flu vaccination when adequate swine flu vaccine is available.
The statewide sample of 652 registered voters was 37 percent Republican, 34 percent Democrat and 29 percent Independent.
-Updated information about swine flu in the US can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
-Arizona-specific information about swine flu can be found at http://www.azdhs.gov/flu/h1n1/.
-Cochise County will publish updates, as needed, on its website at http://cochise.az.gov/h1n1.
Basic clinic information can be found at the Health Department's H1N1 Hotline at 520-432-9410.
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