Published: November 05, 2009 10:39 am      

Restrictions still apply for vaccine

Another 1,000 doses of the Influenza A H1N1 swine flu vaccine have arrived at the Pittsburg County Health Department.

“We got 600 doses of the H1N1 vaccine in vials,” said Health Department District Nurse Manager Melissa Tidwell.

“We also received another 300 vaccines in pre-filled syringes, plus 100 doses of the mist.”

However, there are still none of the Influenza A H1N1 swine flu vaccines available for the general public.

One new group has been added this week, this one from the Pittsburg County Health Department.

“It’s for our staff that meet the criteria of having direct patient contact,” said Pittsburg County Health Department Administrator Mike Echelle. He said that group consists of the nurses and receptionists at the health department.

“We anticipate having the H1N1 vaccine available to the general public by the end of November,” Echelle said this morning.

“It depends on the production and distribution of the vaccine from the manufacturer.”

Echelle noted that “Oklahoma’s supply has increased every week” since the initial shipment of the vaccine and he expects to keep receiving additional shipments through Jan. 10.

Although the Pittsburg CountyHealth Department is still out of the regular seasonal flu vaccine for adults, as of this morning there were still 91 of the pediatric nasal vaccines available for the regular flu. It’s available for children from ages 2 to 19, with no chronic medical conditions.

“I expect to receive more regular seasonal flu vaccine for adults and children by the end of November,” Echelle said.

Effective this week other groups which may be offered the Influenza A H1N1 swine flu vaccine at the Pittsburg County Health Department are:

• All children, from ages 6 months to 18 years.

• Pregnant women.

• Front-line healthcare workers with direct patient contact to acutely ill persons.

• Custodial parents of infants less than 6 months of age.

• Persons from 19 to 64 years of age with chronic medical conditions, such as chronic pulmonary disease, which deals with the lungs; renal or kidney dysfunction; diabetes; cardiovascular, or heart disease; and immunosuppressive illnesses, such as HIV and lupus.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.