1st shipment of new H1N1 vaccine expected this week -- more coming

Initial 57,000 doses of new H1N1 flu mist vaccine allotted to Illinois

[October 08, 2009]  SPRINGFIELD -- Dr. Damon T. Arnold, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, announced Wednesday that the first shipments of the new H1N1 flu vaccine were anticipated to arrive in Illinois yesterday and today (Thursday). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allotted 57,000 doses of the new H1N1 flu vaccine, in nasal spray form only, to the state of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. Chicago receives its own allotment of the new H1N1 vaccine.

The new H1N1 vaccine will be delivered directly from vaccine manufacturers to local health departments and hospitals across Illinois, outside Chicago, to begin vaccinating the following CDC-designated priority populations:

• Pregnant women

• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age

• Health care and emergency medical services personnel

• People from 6 months through 24 years of age

• People ages 25-64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza

"Illinois will continue to receive additional shipments of the new H1N1 vaccine, so there will be enough vaccine for everyone," Arnold said. "Certain people are at higher risk of complications due to the new H1N1 flu, and others work with populations at risk of complications, so we ask you to allow these people to receive their new H1N1 flu vaccine first.

"Again, additional doses of the new H1N1 vaccine will be delivered to providers in Illinois almost daily, so there will be enough vaccine to go around. In the meantime, get a seasonal flu shot and take everyday preventive actions -- three 'C's': clean, cover and contain -- to stay healthy."

The initial shipment of new H1N1 vaccine is in nasal spray form and is licensed only for people age 2 through 49 years without underlying medical conditions, including pregnancy. The CDC has said that injectable vaccines, approved for all populations except those with contraindications, will begin being shipped next week.

It is anticipated that these first shipments of the new H1N1 vaccine will be offered to health care workers, a CDC priority population, and subsequent shipments of the vaccine will be delivered in the next weeks and months to local health departments, hospitals and designated providers across Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health is currently receiving provider agreements to compile a complete list of locations where the public can receive a new H1N1 vaccination.

To stay healthy and limit the spread of flu, remember the three "C's":

• CLEAN -- Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs.

• COVER -- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or sleeve, not your hand.

• CONTAIN -- Contain your germs. Stay home if you are sick.

For more information, go to www.ready.illinois.gov.

[Text from Illinois Department of Public Health file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]