Newspaper info as of last night:
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State relaxes H1N1 vaccine restrictions
Friday, December 11, 2009 6:00 pm
Supply has finally caught up with demand. (Not totally accurate, but better news for some..
)
That was the message from state health officials who announced this week that health care providers can begin to give the H1N1 vaccine to people who were previously blocked from receiving doses because of limited supply.
Officials said the decision to make the vaccination available to any resident older than 6 months was made after recent clinics offered to "priority groups" failed to reach capacity, signaling that demand for doses was beginning to wane.
Dan Durkee, a health educator at the Warren County Department of Health, said the policy change allowed health officials to begin offering the H1N1 vaccine to all residents at a clinic in the municipal center on Friday.
Three other Warren County vaccination clinics scheduled for later this month that were previously reserved for residents between 6 months and 49 years old will also now be open to the general public, he said.
No appointments will be necessary, as officials expect to have ample supplies, a reversal from initial H1N1 vaccination clinics for which doses were limited because of manufacturing delays.
"The supply is here, so now we're hoping that the demand doesn't fall off so much that it just sits in the fridge," Durkee said. "It's still a threat, and we hope people will still feel the need to get vaccinated."
Children younger than 9 who have already received an H1N1 vaccination are also being encouraged to return for a second "booster shot," he added.
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In Washington County, a clinic open to the general public was scheduled for Dec. 15 at the public health offices in Hudson Falls, officials announced late on Friday.
Despite greater supplies and a relaxation of the eligibility requirements, a targeted effort to vaccinate students at school-based clinics will continue in the county, Public Health Director Patricia Hunt said.
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Saratoga County health officials meanwhile said vaccination clinics scheduled for later this month, directed to priority groups, are already full.
Clinics for the broader population could begin in January, but no dates will be set until officials have a better sense of how many doses will be available, said Terry Stortz, the county's director of preventative health services.
"The allocation of vaccines is getting better, but it's still not optimal," she said.
Stortz recommended those who are still waiting for the H1N1 vaccination - particularly anxious seniors - contact their primary care physicians to see if they can provide it.
Select private doctors have begun to receive vaccinations in the region.
Local health officials said demand for the vaccine has diminished because of the relatively low number of illnesses seen in the area to date, but they warned the risk remains constant.
The steadier flow of supplies creates a "window of opportunity" to vaccinate residents before flu season truly settles in, they said.
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"Fortunately, we have been seeing a decrease in the number of reported illnesses," said Hunt, of Washington County. "But what happens from here we just don't know. There's no way to predict what the illness will look like as time goes by."
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So 3 more counties look "good" to "iffy" - but it appears that only select private physicians offices still are getting ample supplies..
The article isn't clear on residency requirements, so people will have to make calls to all 3 counties mentioned to see if they are eligible or not..
I was surprised to read that children 9 and under need 2 doses - regardless of whether they received the mist or the shot - probably because it didn't apply to us.. Hopefully parents are aware of that..
So even though it's "mixed" news, you have somewhat of a better chance of being vaccinated now if you're comfortable with going to a clinic as opposed to your own private physician - who may or may not have it available..
Good luck with your search!!
---------------------------
State relaxes H1N1 vaccine restrictions
Friday, December 11, 2009 6:00 pm
Supply has finally caught up with demand. (Not totally accurate, but better news for some..
)That was the message from state health officials who announced this week that health care providers can begin to give the H1N1 vaccine to people who were previously blocked from receiving doses because of limited supply.
Officials said the decision to make the vaccination available to any resident older than 6 months was made after recent clinics offered to "priority groups" failed to reach capacity, signaling that demand for doses was beginning to wane.
Dan Durkee, a health educator at the Warren County Department of Health, said the policy change allowed health officials to begin offering the H1N1 vaccine to all residents at a clinic in the municipal center on Friday.
Three other Warren County vaccination clinics scheduled for later this month that were previously reserved for residents between 6 months and 49 years old will also now be open to the general public, he said.
No appointments will be necessary, as officials expect to have ample supplies, a reversal from initial H1N1 vaccination clinics for which doses were limited because of manufacturing delays.
"The supply is here, so now we're hoping that the demand doesn't fall off so much that it just sits in the fridge," Durkee said. "It's still a threat, and we hope people will still feel the need to get vaccinated."
Children younger than 9 who have already received an H1N1 vaccination are also being encouraged to return for a second "booster shot," he added.
--------------------------------------------------
In Washington County, a clinic open to the general public was scheduled for Dec. 15 at the public health offices in Hudson Falls, officials announced late on Friday.
Despite greater supplies and a relaxation of the eligibility requirements, a targeted effort to vaccinate students at school-based clinics will continue in the county, Public Health Director Patricia Hunt said.
-------------------------------------------
Saratoga County health officials meanwhile said vaccination clinics scheduled for later this month, directed to priority groups, are already full.
Clinics for the broader population could begin in January, but no dates will be set until officials have a better sense of how many doses will be available, said Terry Stortz, the county's director of preventative health services.
"The allocation of vaccines is getting better, but it's still not optimal," she said.
Stortz recommended those who are still waiting for the H1N1 vaccination - particularly anxious seniors - contact their primary care physicians to see if they can provide it.
Select private doctors have begun to receive vaccinations in the region.
Local health officials said demand for the vaccine has diminished because of the relatively low number of illnesses seen in the area to date, but they warned the risk remains constant.
The steadier flow of supplies creates a "window of opportunity" to vaccinate residents before flu season truly settles in, they said.
---------------------------------------------
"Fortunately, we have been seeing a decrease in the number of reported illnesses," said Hunt, of Washington County. "But what happens from here we just don't know. There's no way to predict what the illness will look like as time goes by."
----------------------------------------
So 3 more counties look "good" to "iffy" - but it appears that only select private physicians offices still are getting ample supplies..
The article isn't clear on residency requirements, so people will have to make calls to all 3 counties mentioned to see if they are eligible or not..
I was surprised to read that children 9 and under need 2 doses - regardless of whether they received the mist or the shot - probably because it didn't apply to us.. Hopefully parents are aware of that..
So even though it's "mixed" news, you have somewhat of a better chance of being vaccinated now if you're comfortable with going to a clinic as opposed to your own private physician - who may or may not have it available..
Good luck with your search!!
