H1N1 Flu Vaccinations

Update:
December 16, 2009

Tompkins County Health Department to Continue Vaccinating Priority Groups

Information on Recall of Some Pediatric H1N1 Vaccine

---

TCHD Vaccination Update

The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) announced today that it will continue to vaccinate people who meet the criteria for priority H1N1 vaccination as determined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

On December 10, 2009 Governor Paterson announced that health departments and health care providers could begin vaccinating the general population because in many areas of the state the demand for vaccination from priority groups has waned and others not meeting the criteria were requesting the H1N1 vaccine.

This week, Tompkins County Health Department vaccinated students at Boynton and Dewitt Middle Schools and the Ithaca High School as planned.  On Tuesday, at a clinic at Beverly J Martin (BJM) elementary school students from Fall Creek, BJM, Immaculate Conception, Montessori schools, Cascadilla, Racker Center, Waldorf and home schoolers were vaccinated.

In Tompkins County not everyone in the priority groups who wants the H1N1 vaccination has been able to receive it. Therefore, people in the priority groups may continue to call TCHD at 274-6609 and leave their name and phone number. As vaccine becomes available, TCHD will contact them to set up an appointment. As of December 15, TCHD has vaccinated 4,589 Tompkins County residents including school children and other priority groups.

Priority groups include:

• Pregnant women
• People who care for or live with infants younger than 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical personnel
• Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with a chronic medical condition or a weakened immune system.

TCHD will begin vaccinating the general public with H1N1 vaccine in January depending on availability of the vaccine. Dates, times and location are yet to be determined. TCHD is one of many providers registered to receive and administer the H1N1 vaccine. People are encouraged to check with their provider for vaccine availability.

---

Pediatric H1N1 Vaccine Recall

On December 15, the CDC announced that there was a voluntary recall of certain lots (batches) of Pediatric H1N1 vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur. Periodic testing indicated that these lots of vaccine had lost some of their potency (strength) over time.  There are no safety concerns associated with the vaccine.

The vaccine is in pre-filled syringes (0.25 mL) intended for 6 to 35 month olds. The Tompkins County Health Department did not have and did not administer vaccine from lots that were recalled. No recalled vaccine was used at school based clinics in Tompkins County.

The CDC states that the vaccine potency in the recalled doses is only slightly below the specified range for potency but is still expected to be effective in stimulating a protective response despite the slight reduction of the active ingredient (also called antigen).

Parents of children who received the vaccine from the recalled lots do not need to take any action other than to complete the two-dose immunization series if not already completed.

Vaccine doses with the following lot numbers are included in the recall :
0.25 ml pre-filled syringes, 10-packs (NDC # 49281-650-25, sometimes coded as 49281-0650-25):
    UT023DA
    UT028DA
    UT028CB

0.25 ml pre-filled syringes, 25-packs (NDC # 49281-650-70, sometimes coded as 49281-0650-70):
    UT030CA

For more information on the recall go to the CDC website:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/syringes_qa.htm