Public Health immunization program manager Mariana Coats said in yesterday’s press briefing that although the CNMI will be receiving a total of 56,000 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine shots, these will not come at one time.
“We have 2,400 doses available now. We received the first 900 doses for vaccine shots on Oct. 14, and 1,500 doses for nasal spray on Oct. 17,” Coats said.
She said they have to administer the first batch to a priority group first as determined by the Centers for Disease Control, or those who are most susceptible to the H1N1 flu.
“We will be setting up points of dispensing sites to vaccinate health and emergency medical workers. Pregnant women must get their vaccine shots through their primary health care providers,” Coats said.
She added that pregnant women who have not visited a doctor for prenatal care must do so before the H1N1 flu vaccine can be administered.
Coats said the priority groups included the pregnant women, health care and emergency service personnel from the Emergency Management Services, the fire division, the Department of Public Safety, individuals 6 months to 24 years old, individuals from 25-64 years old with chronic health conditions, and those who are household contacts or caregivers of infants younger than six months. This includes day care contacts and caregivers.
Coats said the priority groups were identified based on the decision of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices who made recommendations on the use of vaccine for control and prevention of the 2009 H1N1 flu.
She said 4,000 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine are on standby that can be ordered immediately.
“We are expecting the rest of the vaccination doses to arrive by the middle or end of November, and the general public can avail of the H1N1 flu vaccine shots by December,” she said.
They are also targeting a school-based vaccination program in December but they have to work with the Public School System first in order to implement this.
“We need to send consent forms and have them signed by parents before we could go to the schools to vaccinate the students,” she said.
Nasal spray or vaccine shot?
Coats said that healthy people who have no medical problems can avail of the nasal spray vaccine shots, but all the others should get the H1N1 flu shot.
She said the nasal spray is a live, attenuated intranasal vaccine sprayed into the nose. It can be administered for people from two to 49 years old who are not pregnant and have no certain health conditions like asthma, diabetes, and cancer patients.
She said that a day or two after the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine is administered, individuals of all ages may experience runny nose and nasal congestion. Children may experience fever while adults may have sore throat.
“The vaccines will take effect and start protecting you two weeks after it was administered,” Coats said.
She said individuals who have taken the seasonal flu shot must also take the H1N1 flu vaccines, but individuals who are allergic to eggs or those who have serious reactions after receiving a dose of the seasonal flu vaccine are not recommended to get the H1N1 vaccine.
The vaccine shots are not mandatory but the Public Health is recommending it to everyone.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect against the H1N1 flu virus. It is also an important factor in minimizing the risk and severity of H1N1 infection,” the Public Health stated.
Administering clinics
The H1N1 flu vaccines will be available at the DPH clinics for free at the Women’s Clinic at the CHC, Southern Community Wellness Center in San Antonio, Tinian Health Center and Rota Health Center.
All private clinics, except for Island Medical Center, will be administering the H1N1 flu vaccines including Pacific Medical Center, Medical Associates of the Pacific (Dr. Ada’s clinic), Saipan Health Center, Marianas Medical Center, FHP and Dr. Hocog’s Clinic.
Coats said individuals who get their H1N1 flu vaccine shots from private clinics may have to pay an administration fee of not more than $10, but individuals who can’t afford it right away can sign a promissory note with the private clinics to pay later.
Staff training
Coats said that they cannot start administering the H1N1 flu vaccines immediately because they have to train the personnel and hospital staff first.
The training will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon today at the Pacific Islands Club for over 60 nurses and hospital staff from the CHC and from the private clinics.
For more information about the flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine, visit www.flu.gov, call 234-8950 or e-mail [email protected].
