The Lyon County Health Department has been allotted 238 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, with 200 of those doses to arrive around the end of the month. The vaccine will come in mist form, said Ann Mayo, director of environmental health.
“Priority will be vaccination of health-care workers, followed by children between 2 and 9 years of age,” Mayo said. “This priority has been recommended by the KDHE, and we will be following their recommendations.”
Mayo said more shipments of vaccines are expected during the fall/winter season. There will be no charge for the vaccinations.
“Other providers may charge a fee for administering the vaccine but they cannot charge for the vaccine or supplies to administer the vaccine,” Mayo said.
Distribution of the vaccine will depend on what type of vaccine is shipped and who will meet the requirements for that vaccine.
“Vaccine will come in forms that are licensed for children 6 months and older, 4 years and up, and 18 years and up,” Mayo said. “It also comes in pre-filled syringes targeted for pregnant women and pediatric doses targeted for 6 months to 34 months.”
Mayo said the health center will be receiving Flumist, which is only approved for people between the ages of 2 and 49 years old and only to healthy individuals who don’t have conditions such as asthma.
“Plans for administering the vaccine to the public will depend on all these factors and more,” Mayo said. “We plan to set specific dates and times for priority groups to come to the health department to receive their vaccinations. We also plan to set up vaccination clinics in the schools and possibly other areas that we may determine as necessary.”
H1N1 program
Newman Regional Health’s educational H1N1 program will air on Cable Channel 20 at 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 13 and on 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 15. The program will cover H1N1 Virus and vaccine overview; pregnancy and breastfeeding and public vaccination planning.