No more seasonal flu shots, H1N1 vaccines arrive

Floyd Valley Community Health will not be offering the seasonal influenza vaccine after today (Friday) because manufacturers are unable to provide all the doses ordered.

The last public clinic was held today at the Hinton Community Center. Vaccinations were given until the supply was gone.

The H1N1 vaccine is expected to start arriving today in limited quantities. The first doses will be reserved for healthcare providers.

Community health officials expect to start receiving larger quantities throughout the next few weeks. These doses will be made available to the following priority groups:

* Pregnant women

* Children 6 months through 24 years of age

* Household contacts and caregivers of children under 6 months of age

* Healthcare and emergency medical personnel

* People 25 through 64 years of age who have certain health conditions that put them at increased risk for complication from the flu. This would include asthma, diabetes, heart, renal or lung disease, neurologic or neuromuscular disease, or immunosuppression.

* Vaccine will also be available to established patients at Medical Associates of Floyd Valley Hospital, Le Mars and Remsen clinics, Akron Mercy Medical Clinic and Kingsley Mercy Medical Clinic.

Floyd Valley Community Health will be offering H1N1 vaccine at school based clinics as well as public clinics. Please watch for upcoming clinic dates.

If you have received the seasonal flu vaccine as a nasal mist and wish to receive the H1N1 vaccine as a nasal mist, the two doses must be separated by four weeks.

The nasal mist is not recommended for pregnant women or children with asthma and may only be given to persons 2 years through 49 years of age.

In addition, it remains important to take personal actions to prevent the spread of the virus:

* Cover your cough,

* Clean your hands, and

* Contain germs by staying home when ill.

A statewide toll-free hotline has been established for public questions about seasonal and H1N1 influenza at 1-800-447-1985. More information can also be found at www.idph.state.ia.us or www.floydvalleyhospital.org.