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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: |
November 5, 2009 |
Margaret Williams |
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Update on H1N1 (Swine) Flu in El Dorado County
Second Shipment of H1N1 Flu Vaccine Begins Arriving into County;
Health Services Department Offers Vaccine to High Risk Individuals by Appointment
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Healthcare providers in El Dorado County who have been awaiting shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine began to see the supplies coming in this week. “Doctors in the community who ordered the vaccine should have received the vaccine or will be getting it within the next few weeks,” said Cathy Dunbar, El Dorado County Immunization Coordinator. “People who are interested in getting the vaccine should check with their doctor’s office.” The El Dorado County Health Services Department, Public Health Division also received a small supply of the injectable H1N1 vaccine and will be offering it, by appointment only, to the following targeted individuals:
- Pregnant women
- Household contacts and caregivers of infants under the age of six months
- Infants who are six months to 23 months of age
- Children ages 2-18 with chronic health conditions that would prevent them from receiving the nasal flu mist version of the vaccine
“Because many local healthcare providers are also receiving the vaccine and our supply is limited at the Health Services Department, we do ask that people who have a family doctor please try to get the vaccine there first before trying to schedule an appointment with us,” said Dunbar. To schedule an appointment to receive the H1N1 vaccine through the Health Services Department, call (530) 621-6100 in Placerville and (530) 573-3155 in South Lake Tahoe. The vaccine will be provided at no cost.
Additional shipments of the vaccine are expected in the coming weeks, and as supplies increase, the vaccine will be more widely available to other members of the community. “We hope to have community vaccination clinics with the H1N1 vaccine for the general public toward the end of November or early December,” said Dunbar.
“Our county will receive the vaccine in several shipments,” said Dunbar. “For people who are anxious to get the vaccine, we ask that they please be patient. We believe that eventually everyone who would like to get the vaccine will be able to receive it.” The H1N1 flu vaccine is manufactured using the same methods as those used for the seasonal flu vaccine.
El Dorado County health officials are monitoring H1N1 (swine) flu activity and continue to emphasize that good hand washing and staying home when sick are the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus.
Symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu include fever of 100 degrees or higher, with cough. People with flu symptoms should stay home from work or school until their fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. Individuals with severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or dehydration from vomiting and/or diarrhea, should seek medical advice. Pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions (such as a respiratory condition, immune disorder, or diabetes) should seek early medical care if they get the flu.
To date, there have been 78 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection in El Dorado County, although it is believed that more cases are circulating in the community. There has been one H1N1 related death in El Dorado County. Updated local information on H1N1 (swine) flu will be posted online at www.edcgov.us/publichealth.
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