Health department moves to new priority group for H1N1 vaccines

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

More Saline County residents may be able to receive the H1N1 vaccine now, health department officials said in a press release Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 3.

The department is moving to the second, more inclusive vaccination priority group because some vaccine from previous shipments, specifically the mist form, has not all been used, Administrator Lisa Thomas said in the release.

The new priority group is first, pregnant women; second, persons who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age; third, health care workers and EMS personnel; fourth, children and young adults between the ages of 6 months and 24 years; and fifth, people ages 25 to 64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems that make them higher risk for the flu virus.

In the press release, Thomas said that the new priority group will allow more high-risk individuals to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

"This will provide immunizations for the age group of 6 months through 24 years of age which is one of the groups most affected by the H1N1 influenza," she wrote.

For individuals in the priority groups, vaccines are available at Missouri Valley Physicians, Mid-Missouri Family Health, Fitzgibbon Hospital for their staff and Marshall Family Practice, Marshall's Women's Care, Central Missouri Women's Health Care, I-70 Community Hospital for their staff and the Medical Clinic, TLC Pediatrics and Marshall Medical Clinic. The health department also has a small supply of vaccines for individuals with no local providers.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net