H1N1 vaccine on its way to Saline County, health department official says

The H1N1 vaccine will soon be available in Saline County, health department Assistant Administrator Russ Donnell said Thursday afternoon, Oct. 8.

Donnell said the health department received notification Thursday that 100 vaccines have been shipped, but he doesn't know how long it will take for the doses to arrive. The vaccines can only be delivered on business days; so if they don't come Friday, Oct. 9, they cannot be deposited until Tuesday, Oct. 13, because of the Columbus Day holiday.

Once they arrive, the vaccines will then be distributed to physicians around the county to inoculate to their patients. The vaccine is free, though doctors may choose to charge an administration fee.

In this shipment, the department is receiving vaccines in the form of the aerosol mist, rather than injections.

These doses are only approved for healthy children and adults from age 2 to 49. They contain a live, but altered, virus and therefore aren't appropriate for pregnant women, children younger than 2 and anyone with underlying health problems, according to a news release from Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Donnell said Friday the department will be receiving weekly shipments of the vaccines. Next week's shipment is also 100 doses.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net

Related Stories:
www.marshallnews.com/topic/flu_news09

On the Web:
http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/