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November 17, 2009

County health department to offer H1N1 shots to anyone

Garfield County Health Department will start giving H1N1 influenza vaccine to anyone requesting immunization.

State health officials announced the change Tuesday. Previously, the vaccine was given only to people in certain high-risk groups.

Walk-in clinic times at Garfield County Health Department, 2501 Mercer, are 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 233-0650.

“While we continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination for the priority groups, especially children and pregnant women, we are going to begin to vaccinate the general population (Tuesday),” said state epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley. “Vac-cination continues to be the best way to protect yourself from the H1N1 flu and slow the spread of this pandemic. H1N1 influenza activity has been widespread in Oklahoma since early September, and even though statewide monitoring recently has shown a decline in influenza-linked hospitalizations, this virus is expected to circulate throughout the winter months. The possibility also exists that another surge of H1N1 flu may follow the current one.”

Since Sept. 1, 890 Oklahomans have been hospitalized due to complications from influenza and 27 people have died. Ninety percent of the H1N1-related deaths have been people less than 65 years old. This finding contrasts with seasonal flu, which tends to cause the greatest proportion of deaths among people older than 65.

Oklahomans seeking the H1N1 vaccine are encouraged to check with their physician’s office or county health department. Oklahoma State Department of Health expects an additional 90,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine to be delivered to the state this week. The doses include both nasal spray and injectable vaccines. Supplies remain limited and the state expects to continue to receive vaccine through January.

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