News Release 

TOMPKINS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Alice Cole, RN, MSE – Public Health Director

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
Theresa Lyczko at 274-6714 or Sigrid Connors at 274-6656

Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu Vaccine in Tompkins County — Update

 
September 30 – (Ithaca, N.Y.) - The Tompkins County Health Department’s (TCHD) seasonal flu vaccination clinics scheduled from September 29 through October 7 have been postponed due to a delay in distribution of seasonal flu vaccine.

As with other providers and local health departments in New York State, the Department received partial shipments and was able to provide some vaccinations. It is not unusual in any given year to receive partial shipments of seasonal flu vaccine over a period of weeks. The reason for the delay this year is that the federal government asked manufacturers to focus on production and distribution of the H1N1 vaccine. The same manufacturers produce both vaccines. 

This is only a delay and TCHD expects its full vaccine order, but at this point in time there is no delivery date scheduled. It's important to keep in mind that it is still early in the season to get a seasonal flu vaccination. TCHD typically doesn't begin its vaccination clinics until mid to late October and into November. The seasonal flu clinics were scheduled earlier this year to accommodate the receipt of H1N1 vaccine and the scheduling of H1N1 vaccination clinics. TCHD will reschedule seasonal flu vaccine clinics upon receipt of the rest of the seasonal flu vaccine. Anyone 6 months of age and above is encouraged to get a seasonal flu vaccine.

TCHD expects to receive a small shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine the week of October 5. The vaccine will be in the form of a nasal spray. This type of vaccine can be used to vaccinate the priority target groups of children and adults age 2 to 24 years without underlying health problems, otherwise healthy health care workers through the age of 49 years and otherwise healthy caregivers of infants under 6 months of age.

Because of the expected small number of doses in this first shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has directed local health departments to vaccinate health care providers first. The reason is to protect vulnerable patients in health care settings, not for personal benefit to health care providers. TCHD expects to receive H1N1 vaccine over the next few months in both the nasal spray and injectable forms. Once it is received, H1N1 flu vaccination of priority groups will most likely take place over a period of three months.

Information on vaccine availability and distribution and the H1N1 flu changes rapidly. TCHD is monitoring the transmission and impact of the H1N1 flu locally and the flow of information continually.

Everyone 6 months of age and above is encouraged to get a seasonal flu vaccine when the vaccine becomes available again. However, priority groups have been established for the H1N1 flu vaccine based on disease patterns observed this past spring and populations most at-risk for severe illness based on current trends in illness. These include:

• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel
• Persons from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Persons age 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from flu.

Once these priority groups have been vaccinated, H1N1 flu vaccination will made available to others in the community.

Everyday steps to prevent the spread of germs and reduce the risk of getting or spreading H1N1 and seasonal flu are also very important:

• Sneeze or cough into your elbow. If you use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick. Do not return to school, work, social gatherings, grocery shopping and other routine errands in the community until you have been without a fever for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medications such as Tylenol.

If you think you need medical attention, call your doctor.

Stay in good general health – get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of liquids and eat nutritious food.

For more information about H1N1 and seasonal flu go to the Tompkins County Health Department website: www.tompkins-co.org/health  or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ or www.nyhealth.gov  or call the TCHD Flu Hotline at 607-274-6609 and the New York State Department of Health H1N1 flu hotline at 1-800-808-1987 available 24 hours a day.

 

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