H1N1 vaccine arriving in N.D. next week

The North Dakota Department of Health has received information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that the first doses of novel H1N1 influenza vaccine will be arriving in the state next week. The state will receive an initial supply of 4,000 doses in the form of a nasal spray called FluMist.

This initial shipment of FluMist vaccine will be given to health-care workers in North Dakota. FluMist vaccine cannot be given to young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions or those older than 50. Therefore, the decision was made to give these initial doses to health-care workers who are at high risk of being exposed to the virus and who could expose patients who are at high risk because of medical conditions. This will help to ensure that doctors and nurses remain on the job to care for others.

“Vaccine is going to come into the state in increments over the next few weeks,” said State Health Officer Terry Dwelle, M.D. “We are starting with health-care workers with these first doses, but we expect much more vaccine to be available in the coming weeks. As we receive more vaccine, more people will be able to be vaccinated, and we should have enough vaccine available for anyone who wants it. We encourage people to keep informed through our website and the media about vaccine availability and to get the vaccine when it is available for them.”

The CDC estimates that more than 150 million doses ultimately will be available in the U.S., and North Dakota should receive more than 380,000 doses. The North Dakota Department of Health will continue to release information as more vaccine becomes available in the state.

For more information, the media can contact Kirby Kruger at 701-328-2378.

Tags: h1n1, life, health, influenza, daily updates