Flu shots will include H1N1 vaccine
By Rod Rose/For the Times Sentinel
CNHI
— Flu shots for the 2010-11 season will include a vaccine for pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
Each year, flu vaccine is mixed based on a World Health Organization estimate of what flu viruses are most likely to emerge in the upcoming season. This year, health experts anticipate that an H3N2 virus, and a type B virus, are also the most likely to cause the greatest number of flu cases.
The closer the vaccine matches the viruses that emerge, the fewer persons are likely to become sick.
“Even if the vaccine and the circulating strains are not an exact match, the vaccine may reduce the severity of the illness, or may help prevent influenza-related complications,” the FDA said in a press release.
About 15,000 Boone County residents received 2009/H1N1 shots in the 2009-10 flu season, said Tammy Denny, public health nurse for communicable disease/preparedness at the Boone County Health Department.
The BCHD gave nearly 9,000 of those shots, Denny said.
“Yearly, influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons ages 6 months and up,” Denny said. “Vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent influenza and many other diseases.”
About 26.6 percent of Boone County residents received 2009/H1N1 shots, based on Denny’s figure and the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimate of the county’s population in 2009. Statewide, about 23 percent of Indiana’s 6.4 million citizens received H1N1 shots, the ISDH said.
Between Sept. 9, 2009, and May 7, the Indiana State Department of Health reported 43 Hoosiers had died of influenza-like illnesses; 39 of those persons had confirmed H1N1 flu.
Between September 2009 and the end of the flu season in May, 98.4 percent of all influenza specimens tested by the ISDH were 2009/H1N1. More than eight of every 10 persons infected by confirmed H1N1 were 24 or younger.
Fewer than a third of Hoosiers considered at “high risk” from 2009/H1N1 got shots, but. Those include pregnant women, persons with chronic medical conditions and young children.
Another factor troubling to health officials is that only a third of the 322,765 children between 6 months and 9-years-ancient received the two recommended doses of 2009/H1N1 vaccine.
This year, only one shot will be required, the FDA said. Last flu season, two shots were necessary because the pandemic H1N1 virus emerged after flu vaccine production had started.
Free shots clinic
A free vaccination clinic for children entering grades sixth through 12th will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 14, at Traders Point Christian Church, 6590 S. Indianapolis Road, Whitestown. The church is south of the intersection of Indianapolis Road and Ind. 334.
State law requires all children entering grades six and above be vaccinated against Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also called whooping cough), menactra (a meningococcal conjugate, which provides protection against meningitis, an inflammation involving the brain and spinal cord) and varicella (chickenpox).
“There are a large number of children who need these vaccines,” Denny said. “Last-minute appointments will likely to be hard to come by; parents are encouraged to bring their children to the clinic.”
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2 Responses to “Flu shots will include H1N1 vaccine”
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August 28th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I need to get a shot. I have too much stuff to do and can't afford getting sick. Thanks for the info.
September 9th, 2010 at 3:35 am
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