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Novel H1N1 Vaccine Begins Trickling into Maricopa County
PHOENIX (October 8, 2009) - The hose has been turned on, but there is only a dribble of water coming out (to borrow an analogy from Interim Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, Will Humble.) This sums up the first couple of weeks of vaccine arriving in Maricopa County (and in the state).
Dr. Bob England, director of Maricopa County Department of Public Health announced today his strategy for distributing the vaccine as it slowly begins trickling into Maricopa County.
“Our overall objective for the vaccine delivery of the Novel H1N1 vaccine is to make sure that it goes to those who need it most and that at the end of every week, our community is depleted of vaccine and needing more. The best way to do this, of course, is by continuously sending it to locations with high risk individuals in a steady stream so that providers have just enough, but there is nothing sitting in a refrigerator anywhere,” he said.
Vaccine supply is arriving slowly in Maricopa County from the federal government. To date, the County is receiving 39K doses of Flu Mist this week, and should receive approximately 20k doses of injectable vaccine next week. Week three numbers have not been released yet.
Maricopa County’s plan to date:
- Week One: 39K doses of Flu Mist; directly sent to hospital health care workers and city EMS workers
- Week Two: 20K doses of injectable vaccine; directly sent to pediatricians, Ob/Gyn’s and community health centers for high risk patients
- Week Three and beyond: We don’t know how fast it will be arriving but as the supply increases, we have plans for the following:
- Stocking private providers and pharmacies;
- Offering the vaccine at Women Infants and Children (WIC) sites and immunization clinics;
- Completing the vaccination of health care workers; and
- Supplying private immunization providers so they can open school-based vaccine events as well a special locations where those who most need the vaccine can receive it.
“The CDC allows the states to order vaccine as soon as it’s available, perhaps even daily, so I expect over time, we will have enough vaccine for all of our high risk populations. Unfortunately, right now, we are in a race between how fast the novel H1N1 will spread and how fast we can get the vaccine to our community,” England said.
England is asking for patience in the community as vaccine begins trickling in, as many providers who have asked for the vaccine will not have it for a few weeks.
“If your doctor does not have it or is not planning on getting the vaccine, you will have an opportunity to go elsewhere to get it,” he said. “As soon as there is enough vaccine to open clinics, we will be announcing these locations as well as posting them at www.fluaz.org.”
Flu shot locations will be updated on www.fluaz.org or by calling 1-877-764-2670.
Novel H1N1 Vaccine Recommendations:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that programs and providers try to vaccinate:
· pregnant women,
· people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,
· health care and emergency medical services personnel,
· persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and
· people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
Do your part to stop the spread of flu in Maricopa County. Cover your cough with your sleeve, wash your hands and stay home when you are sick. For more information on the Novel H1N1 or seasonal flu in Maricopa County, visit www.StopTheSpreadAZ.org and click on Maricopa County.