Public Health Medical Director Richard Brostrom said there are about 800 to 1,000 pregnant women in the CNMI at any given time.
But the Department of Public Health has no information yet as to the exact number of H1N1 vaccines that will be available to the CNMI.
“For now, we will focus on vaccine awareness and outreach efforts targeting pregnant women, as well as the other people who fall under the high risk groups,” Brostrom said.
A Public Health press release stated that the H1N1 flu shot is safe during pregnancy or during breastfeeding.
“The flu shot does not contain a live virus and cannot give pregnant women the flu,” the department said.
It added that some women may experience fatigue and muscle aches due to their immune system responding to the vaccine but it is safe.
The shot takes about two weeks to work.
According to the department, “The best way to have a healthy pregnancy is to prevent the flu altogether.”
The five key populations who are most likely to come in contact with the H1N1 include pregnant women, people who live with or provide care for children younger than six months old, health care and emergency medical services personnel, people between six months through 24 years of age, and people from the ages of 25 to 64 who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders like asthma, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.
Public Health said vaccines may be given in two doses and administered three to four weeks apart.
The H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine or the annual flu shot.
The department said many people will be recommended to get both vaccines to protect against the flu this season.
Public Health is expecting to receive the latest seasonal flu vaccines by the end of this month.
“The annual flu shot contain three flu viruses which change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of flu viruses will circulate in a given year,” it stated.
