Health Department Gets H1N1 Vaccine
The Imperial County Public Health Department has announced it has received its first shipment of injectable 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
The first vaccines received by the Department will be prioritized for children ages six months through pre-kindergarten, and school age children in the elementary and junior high and middle school grades.
Most community clinics, private physicians and pediatricians in Imperial County also have H1N1 vaccine in stock and will continue to receive shipments throughout the season.
Local medical providers, in collaboration with the Imperial County Public Health Department and school officials, will help make the vaccinations available to school district clinics throughout the county.
The school district clinics are expected to start in mid-November and continue throughout the flu season. Once plans are finalized, the school districts will announce the dates and times for the school- based clinics. Projections to extend vaccine to other priority groups, including those attending high school and college, are in the planning process.
Most community clinics, private physicians and pediatricians in Imperial County also have H1N1 vaccine in stock and will continue to receive shipments throughout the season.
The school district clinics are being offered as another option for parents and as a way to assist local providers in making the vaccine available to children.
“The Department’s goal is to make 2009 H1N1 vaccine available to the highest priority groups as it becomes available. Once all vaccine has been received and the highest priority groups served, vaccine will be offered to all those who wish to receive it,” said Robin Hodgkin, Imperial County Public Health Director.
She explained that the federal government has opted to ship the vaccine in partial quantities, rather than delaying distribution until orders can be shipped in full. While early shipments of the vaccine to local health departments and medical providers will be in smaller batches, remaining orders will arrive throughout the flu season.
Individuals who are part of the high priority groups, as well as parents who are unable to take their child to their school district’s clinic, are encouraged to contact their health care provider.Individuals who are part of the high priority groups, as well as parents who are unable to take their child to their school district’s clinic, are encouraged to contact their health care provider/pediatrician.
Groups recommended to receive the first available doses of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine include children and young adults between the ages of six months and 24 years old , pregnant women, those who live with or care for children younger than six months of age, health care and emergency medical services workers, and adults between the age a of 25 to 64 years of age who have certain health conditions, such as HIV, diabetes, or heart or lung disease.
While vaccine in the best protection against the flu, there are other ways to reduce the risk of spreading or becoming infected with this or any other type of flu:
- Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends. Stay home until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
- Children with flu-like symptoms should stay home to avoid spreading illness to classmates and staff. Keep children home until at least 24 hours after the child no longer has a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.
For more information on the upcoming 2009 H1N1vaccination clinics in Imperial County please call (760) 482-4949 or email Sonia Contreras at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .