WTHR |Hamilton Southeastern cancels flu shot clinics

Hamilton Southeastern cancels flu shot clinics

Hamilton and Hendricks Counties - Hamilton Southeastern Schools are postponing next week's scheduled H1N1 vaccinations to their students.

They are evaluating alternate plans due to the current shortage of available vaccine in Hamilton County. The school system communicating this information to their parents.

Hamilton County

The Hamilton County Health Department says it's started distributing the H1N1 vaccine to schools and community providers, but it's a slow process due to CDC delays.

The health department will distribute the vaccine to providers in the order the provider agreements were received. Health officials planned 20 public clinics but will not be holding those clinics until there is a sufficient supply of vaccine to conduct them.

Hendricks County

In Hendricks County, a small amount of injectable vaccine is currently available for priority groups:

Preferred Home Health Care, 5250 E. US 36, Suite 800, Avon
Mon/Weds/Fri 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Tues/Thurs 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Hendricks Regional Health Immediate Care Center, 8244 E. US 36, Suite 1100, Avon
Tuesday, Oct. 27th only: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Hendricks Regional Health Immediate Care Center, 1100 Southfield Drive, Suite 1140, Plainfield
Wednesday, Oct. 28th only: 4:00 to 8:00 pm

H1N1 FluMist vaccine is available for priority groups in limited doctor's offices along with Preferred Home Health Care, Take Care Clinic (Avon Walgreens) and the Minute Clinic (Avon CVS).

The target groups for this virus have been and continue to be the following:

· Pregnant women
· Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (e.g. parents, siblings, and child care providers)
· Health care and emergency medical services personnel
· Persons from 6 months to 24 years of age
· People aged 25 to 64 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

If you have to wait for a vaccine, you can increase your chances of staying healthy by washing your hands frequently, especially after touching your nose or eyes. Cough into your sleeve or elbow. Never cough into your hand - because if you touch anything after that, you're leaving your germs for others to catch.

If you're sick, stay home. The flu virus transmits person to person and this means if you are sick and have a fever you could pass it along to your co-workers, and they in turn could pass it to their families. It is important to remember that the virus can be spread 1-2 days before symptoms occur and up to 7 days after symptoms occur.

The most common symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, head aches and body aches. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, but it's important not to confuse gastrointestinal bugs with the flu. The flu's telltale symptom is a fever. In the case of H1N1, it can be 100 degrees or higher. Children who have the flu should be fever-free for 24 hours before being allowed to go back to school.

Nationwide

The CDC says manufacturers have made almost $22.5 million doses and it's starting to come in faster now.

"We're getting to the level where it's going to be significantly easier to find and receive vaccine," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director.

The CDC says there's a one-day turnaround from the time companies ship vaccine to federal health authorities to when it's overnighted to individual states.

"We've cut as much cycle time out of that as possible," said Dr. Frieden.

But shipping - and those slow-growing eggs where the vaccine is made, aren't the only problems. One of America's five vaccine providers, Glaxo Smith Kline, is under contract, but still waiting for the FDA to approve its vaccine. The FDA says they're actively working with the manufacturer but cannot comment on an ongoing regulatory process.

Some lawmakers argue the government was slow to react when manufacturers ran into problems.

"I do believe the administration had an obligation to come to Congress, come to the public with realistic estimates and a new plan once the shortages became evident," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

The shortage is worldwide. Canada just bought more vaccine from Australia. South Korea is making its own, and Singapore is still waiting on its first shipment.

Flu info