H1N1 Vaccinations & Clinics

Tompkins County Receives First Shipment of H1N1 Vaccine

October 7, 2009 - The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) received 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine this week. All of the 500 doses are the nasal spray vaccine.

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has directed local health departments to target health care workers and first responders with this initial shipment. These groups will receive the vaccine first in order to protect vulnerable patients in health care settings not for the personal benefit of health care providers.

Health care workers up to the age of 49 years, who are not pregnant and who do not have certain health conditions are approved for the nasal spray vaccine.

The H1N1 nasal spray vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine approved for healthy people ages 2 through 49 years, with the following exceptions:

• are not pregnant
• do not have certain health conditions that include a weakened immune system,
• do not have a long-term health problem such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney or liver disease, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, anemia and other blood disorders,
• do not have muscle or nerve disorders (such as cerebral palsy).

TCHD is contacting local health care providers and first responders and will provide vaccination with the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine to those health care providers who meet the above criteria.

TCHD expects to receive more H1N1 vaccine in both the nasal spray and injectable forms in the next several weeks. The Department will follow NYSDOH guidelines to vaccinate other target groups.