H1N1 vaccine not yet readily available to all

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Nurse Lisa Nesbit prepares a syringe of the influenza vaccine at Hendricks Regional Health. Submitted Photo

October 15, 2009

By Ryan Palencer The Hendricks County Flyer Thu Oct 15, 2009, 02:06 PM EDT

DANVILLE — The Hendricks County Department of Health announced this week that it has received its first shipment of the injectable H1N1 vaccine.

The vaccine has been sent to Hendricks Regional Health and Clarian West in an effort to vaccinate health care providers first.

Along with the H1N1 scare, there are misconceptions by the general public about treatment.

“The first reaction from a lot of patients with flu-like symptoms is to call their doctor and request a test for H1N1,” Dr. John Sparzo, vice president of medical affairs at HRH, said in a press release. “But, at this time, the vast majority of flu cases are H1N1 and testing specifically for H1N1 is not necessary... A test result showing a specific type of influenza would not change the treatment we would recommend for you. Treatment would be the same for any variety of influenza.”

Sparzo said there is also a strong misconception about the vaccines.

“There has been a lot of misinformation this year about flu vaccines, particularly H1N1,” Sparzo said. “Flu vaccines have been manufactured safely for many years now and the H1N1 vaccine is being produced using the same methods and quality controls, at the same facilities that are used to make seasonal influenza vaccines.”

Health officials say that it will take an estimated six to eight weeks before enough of the vaccine will arrive to vaccinate the five target groups — health care providers and emergency medical service providers, pregnant women, parent/caregivers of infants under 6 months of age, children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years, and individuals ages 25 to 64 with underlying chronic conditions or who are immune compromised.

In fact, the only difference between the two shots is the seasonal flu vaccine has three different influenza viruses included in it. The H1N1 vaccine is made of only one virus.

According to HRH, the side effects are minimal and include minor fever, aches, and soreness at the injection site. Those may apply to both injectable vaccines. The nasal spray vaccine may cause a runny nose, cough, or headache.

Health officials say influenza is a respiratory disease that can cause fever, headaches, body aches, extreme tiredness, sore throat, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, and some stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, Sparzo said to be cautious with these symptoms.

“Surprisingly, not everyone with influenza will have a fever,” he said. “It is possible to have the flu, and be contagious, without having a fever. That’s why it’s so important if you have flu-like symptoms to stay home and avoid contact with others unless you experience severe symptoms and need to go to the doctor.”

While most flu cases are relatively mild and can be treated at home, tens of thousands of people nationally die annually from seasonal influenza viruses.

“This year we are particularly concerned with the new influenza virus, H1N1,” Sparzo said. “It has proven to be deadlier to younger populations who are normally at lower risk for complications of ‘normal’ flu viruses. In particular, pregnant women, school age children, and others in the prime of their life have died from this virus during months that are not even typical for influenza viruses to be circulating.”

For more information about the H1N1 vaccine and preventing the spread of the illness, contact Jenni Hill, health educator at the Hendricks County Health Department, by calling 745-9217. To find H1N1 flu clinic locations, visit the website at www.co.hendricks.in.us.

To get ongoing updates and resources, visit the websites hendricks.org/flu or cdc.gov/h1n1, or call the Indiana State Department of Health at 877-826-0011.

ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com

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