Swine flu clinic set for Saturday
Toolbox
By SUSAN ALLEN TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: November 11, 2009
MONTPELIER – Although the Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice unexpectedly received an additional 190 doses of H1N1 vaccine, for a total of 500, the agency still expects to run out during this weekend's swine flu vaccination clinic for high-risk people at the Barre Auditorium on Saturday morning.
"We actually got more vaccine than we had thought," said Cindy Isabelle, CVHHH health coordinator. She said 300 of the doses are in the shot form, which does not contain live flu viruses. In addition, another 200 doses of the nasal mist vaccine – which contains live, weakened virus that cannot cause flu illnesses, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control – will also be available.
Some people have been reluctant to receive the nasal spray, fearful of the live virus. However, health officials stress that the nasal vaccine is safe and will provide coverage against swine flu for up to a year, compared to the six-month coverage of the flu shot.
"If people are refusing or not wanting to have that, that makes fewer doses available" at Saturday's clinic, Isabelle said.
The clinic officially begins at 9 a.m. Isabelle said staff will arrive early in anticipation of people lining up before opening.
Because of the vaccine shortage, these early clinics are reserved for people at higher risk of getting swine flu. Isabelle said nurses plan to "triage" the line, essentially making sure people are among the high-risk groups.
Those include pregnant women; people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age (parents, siblings, child care providers); health care and emergency medical personnel; anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age; and anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system (i.e. cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung diseases such as asthma or COPD, diabetes, heart disease, kidney or liver disorders, neurological disorders such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, brain or spinal cord injuries, moderate to profound intellectual disabilities or developmental delays, neuromuscular disorders such as muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis, weakened immune systems such as HIV or AIDS).
Children ages 6 months to 9 years of age should get a second "booster" vaccination about one month following the original immunization, health officials said.
The clinics are free, and people are not required to provide proof they are among the high risks groups, although health officials anticipate that people will be honest and not lie to obtain the vaccine.
"We've had to do things on the honor system before," Isabelle said, noting the shortage of seasonal flu vaccine several years ago. "I think in general people are honest about it."
She said it's tough to turn away people over age 65, who are on the priority list for seasonal flu (different from swine flu) vaccine. Older people, however, appear to have a higher immunity to the swine flu, perhaps because they have been exposed to the viruses that comprise swine over their lifetimes, according to the Vermont Health Department. Young people, including children and young adults, appear at special risk in this outbreak.
"What's difficult is not being able to offer it at this time to anyone 65 and holder, but for the most part, they're not getting this virus," said Isabelle. She said she hopes that eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone seeking the protection.
The first public vaccination clinics got underway last week, and in some cases people seeking the vaccine were turned away because supplies ran out. Isabelle said she anticipates a similar outcome at the Barre clinic – with more people expected than there is vaccine available.
"From what the other clinics are saying, I anticipate we will have to turn people away," she said. However, four additional public clinics are already set for later this month and into January.
Yet, she added, Vermonters have generally been responding calmly to the outbreak.
"People aren't totally panicking," Isabelle said. "So far, the people that have gotten the virus have gotten over it. It's really not nearly as bad as they thought it might be. We're hoping people are sensible and continue to follow good hand washing techniques" and take other suggested measures to avoid the disease.
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