VACCINE

More flu vaccines available this week

Residents are urged to take advantage of the additional flu vaccines becoming available for both the seasonal and swine flu even as the incidences of the two are slowing, according to medical officials. “Definitely get the vaccine,” said Laura Hovland, nursing supervisor at Innovis Clinic in Jamestown. “Especially the seasonal flu vaccine because I don’t think that’s come around yet and there is always a chance the swine flu may come back.”

By Keith Norman , December 08, 2009

More swine flu vaccine on the way

More swine flu vaccine is on its way to North Dakota. But the state’s immunization program manager said there still isn’t enough vaccine for everyone who wants it.

December 04, 2009

More swine flu vaccine on way to N.D.

More swine flu vaccine is on its way to North Dakota.

December 03, 2009

Dakotas deal with H1N1 vaccine shortage

The uncertainty over weekly allotments of a limited supply of H1N1 vaccine has complicated efforts to organize immunization clinics and distribute it to hundreds of providers in North Dakota and South Dakota. Shipments from manufacturers are sent to states based on population. State health officials in South Dakota and North Dakota then allocate the vaccine under a formula meant to provide equitable distribution to local clinics and health care providers.

By By Wayne Ortman, The Associated Press , November 20, 2009

Booster now recommended for Hib vaccine

The North Dakota Department of Health wants parents to know about a change in recommendations for Haemo-philus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. Because of production shortages in recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously had recommended that health-care providers defer the routine Hib vaccine booster dose. In a change effective immediately, the CDC now recommends that children ages 1 through 4 years (before their 5th birthday) who did not receive a booster dose for Hib because of the shortage should now receive a booster. The booster dose of Hib vaccine is usually given at 12 to 18 months of age. A complete series of Hib vaccine is either three or four doses, depending on the type used. Parents of children younger than 5 should contact their child’s health-care provider or local public health unit to determine if their child requires a booster dose.

November 17, 2009

H1N1 flu vaccination clinic set Wednesday in Jamestown

A H1N1 flu vaccination clinic will be held for the next priority group on Wednesday. The Central Valley Health District has about 700 doses available for children ages 6 months to 18 years and for people who are caregivers for children younger than 6 months. The clinic will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Jamestown High School or until the vaccine runs out.

By Keith Norman , November 10, 2009

Fargo-Moorhead flu clinic has leftovers

Swine flu vaccine is in high demand around the country. But officials say only half of the stock of H1N1 FluMist vaccine was used up during Fargo-Moorhead's first public vaccination clinic.

October 30, 2009

More H1N1 vaccines available

H1N1 vaccine is now being offered to more citizens of Stutsman and Logan counties. Central Valley Health District has been able to offer vaccine primarily to health care providers and children under the age of 5, but that group is expanding slightly starting Monday.

October 29, 2009

N.D. in line for more swine flu vaccine

State health officials say about 21,200 doses of swine flu vaccine are expected in the state late next week.

October 24, 2009

H1N1 flu shot clinic for children planned

An H1N1 flu vaccination clinic will be held for children 6 months through 4 years of age from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Central Valley Health District, 122 Second St. N.W.

By Keith Norman , October 24, 2009

N.D. finds problems with vaccine

State Health Department officials said Tuesday that about 1,100 doses of swine flu vaccine may not work against the virus because of questions about temperature levels during shipping within the state. The vaccine is safe but might not prevent swine flu, or H1N1, the Health Department said. Officials are recommending about 150 people get another flu shot as a precaution and have asked local health care officials to contact them.

October 21, 2009

Be smart about the flu

Seasonal flu vaccinations are being offered. The first batches of H1N1 vaccine are arriving. The flu season has begun. The H1N1 flu surfaced earlier this year in Mexico. It spread rapidly there and had serious consequences. That same flu has reached the states with a lower but still serious intensity and has been confirmed in North Dakota. As a result many people have, rightly, ratcheted up their concern about getting that strain of flu.

By The Bismarck Tribune , October 19, 2009

Swine flu vaccine expected in N.D.

North Dakota’s Health Department says it expects about 12,300 doses of swine flu vaccine to arrive in the state late next week. Health officials said the shipment will include doses of both the FluMist nasal spray and the injectable vaccine for swine flu, also known as H1N1.

October 17, 2009

WHO eyes flu vaccine

The World Health Organization hopes to begin shipping 60 million doses of swine flu vaccine to poor countries in November as part of an effort to protect their fragile health systems from the pandemic, it said Monday.

By By Frank Jordans, The Associated Press , October 13, 2009

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.

By Keith Norman , October 13, 2009