SAN LUIS VALLEY – Valley health care providers continue to work together providing H1N1 Vaccine to priority groups in the Valley as it becomes available in weekly shipments.

Public Health agencies have faced the decision of whether to hold vaccine until they’ve had enough to vaccinate everybody, or distribute vaccines to high-risk groups sooner in smaller batches.

“We chose to vaccinate as many as we can sooner, even though we are aware it would create some challenges and frustrations, but also knowing that it would allow us to start protecting people against this disease as soon as possible,” said Della Vieira Director of Saguache County Public Health.

"First priorities have been health care workers, pregnant women, and household members of infants less than 6 months, children between 6 months and 4 years of age and children 5 to 18 years of age with certain health problems.

"The next priority groups will be age 6 months to 24 years and non-elderly adults with certain health problems. “We have seen the Valley move through the first wave of infections and we hope to have many vaccinated before the second wave hits,” Vieira said. “We want to thank everyone for being patient as we continue to vaccinate our communities following this system of priorities.”

As a reminder, there are two types of vaccines:

The “flu shot” — an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated influenza vaccine” or FluMist®). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

For more information on the vaccne contact your local public health agency or go to www.colorado.gov/nofluforyou. You may also call the COHelp line at 1-877-462-2911.

From the San Luis Valley Regional Health Joint Information Center







For the complete article see the 10-28-2009 issue.

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