Sorting out the flu shot question

October 14, 2009|Michael Broihier

It's unusual for public health authorities to have to face two different flu viruses at the same time, and this has caused a lot of confusion for those interested in getting vaccines.

The first virus in circulation, the one that closed the school district earlier this month, is a unique H1N1 virus known as the "swine flu." This strain of the virus is 'unique' because it is not genetically similar to any influenza that humans have experienced before. Unique viruses caused pandemics in the last century that killed 10's of millions of people. Many have downplayed the danger of the current virus strain, but significantly, child deaths due to the virus have already reached the toll the annual flu takes in an entire year.

The second virus the community faces is the seasonal or annual flu. As of last Friday, there have been no cases of seasonal flu detected in Kentucky, but the annual flu season doesn't typically start until late October and lasts through the spring. If you or your child were down with the flu in the last few weeks, it was most likely the unique H1N1 and not the seasonal flu. Since the genetic make up of the two viruses is so dissimilar, you will need to get two different vaccines to protect yourself and that has been the source of much confusion.

Unique H1N1 vaccine

Vaccine for the H1N1 virus is in very limited availability. To date, only 100 doses have been received in Lincoln County. The vaccine is being pushed to every county on a "fair share" basis, so until production increases it will be available only to certain priority groups.

Diane Miller, Lincoln County Health Department director, said that Board of Health Chairman Dr. Rodney Bates has worked with her department to set priorities for distributing the vaccine as it comes in, with the first priority going to health care workers who are most likely to come in contact with the virus. School nurses are going to be offered the vaccine first. The next highest priority group is pregnant women.

There is an important consideration with the vaccine that has been made available in initial shipments; the nasal spray vaccine actually contains a live, attenuated virus, and that means only a perfectly healthy person age 2 to 49 can take it. Anyone with a chronic illness (diabetes, asthma, etc.) or lives or works with someone with a compromised immune system, that is someone who has bone marrow or stem cell work, should wait until the vaccine is available by injection.

Health officials are emphasizing that everyone should get the vaccine when it becomes available. If you or your child was sick in recent weeks with the flu, but did not have a positive H1N1 test, you should still take the vaccine.

The federal government is paying for the H1N1 vaccine so there is no cost to the recipient. When it becomes widely available, private sources may charge a service fee, but not for the vaccine.

Seasonal Flu vaccine

The seasonal flu vaccine has recently become available, and some pharmacies and doctors offices have already begun distributing it. The thing to remember is, that the seasonal vaccine DOES NOT protect you from the unique H1N1, so you will have to get both as they become available.

The health department will be running seasonal flu vaccine clinics at the following locations:

Lincoln County Senior Center

Oct. 16 from 9-12

Oct. 21 from 9-12

Lincoln County Courthouse

Oct. 22 from 9-12

Lincoln County Health Dept

Oct 16 from 8-1

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