H1N1 vaccine has come to Jamestown

The first doses of the H1N1 vaccine have arrived in Jamestown —but don’t start rolling up your sleeve for a shot.

This batch of vaccine for H1N1, sometimes referred to as the swine flu, is a nasal inhalant and is reserved for health care professionals.

“The Central Valley Health District received 50 doses along with other health care providers,” said Robin Iszler, registered nurse and administrator of CVHD. “This batch is limited to health care providers but the next batch of vaccine is expected later this week and is dedicated to pregnant women and children ages 6 months to 18 years.”

The next batch will also be an injectable vaccine, she said.

“The inhalant or mist vaccine is meant for healthy people from 2 years of age to 49,” Iszler said. “The injectable vaccine that comes in the next batch will be for wider age groups and conditions.”

Iszler said CVHD is anticipating weekly shipments of H1N1 vaccine. Each shipment will be dedicated to a high priority group until all those groups are vaccinated. At that time the vaccine will be made available to the public.

“It depends on the rate the vaccine is sent out,” Iszler said. “We have no time frame for when we will hold vaccination clinics for the general public.”

As of Oct. 6, Stutsman County had a total of 27 confirmed influenza cases with 22 being the type A seasonal flu and five being H1N1. In North Dakota there have been a total of 285 flu cases with 59 being H1N1.

There is no charge for the H1N1 vaccine if administered by CVHD. If the vaccine is administered by other health care providers, they can charge an administrative fee.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at

(701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at

knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: life, health, vaccine, h1n1, flu