The Haralson County Health Department in Buchanan has resumed administering the first shipment of the injectable form of the H1N1 vaccine after administering the first doses of the shipment last Thursday to high-priority groups. The injectable vaccine is now available for free on a walk-in basis today from 8 a.m. to 11a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for everyone who wants it. However, HCHD Nurse Manager Joyce Guice urges high-priority groups to make sure they come by to get the vaccine as soon as possible due to the large turnout they received Monday.

While many people didn’t know the vaccine had become available last week, word apparently traveled quickly by Monday because the staff had administered the vaccines to more than 100 patients by lunchtime, recalled Guice.

“This 700-dose shipment only represents a small portion of the overall amount of vaccine we expect to receive over the next couple of months,” she added. “We wish we had more right now, and share the public’s frustration with the delays in getting it to our community, but we expect there will eventually be enough vaccine for everyone who wants it.”

Guice says she’s seen a variety of young and elderly patients so far, with varying health conditions; however, she stressed the importance of people included in the high-priority group to get the vaccine, especially since there is not a fee required for the service. Based on recommendations by the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), priority individuals are pregnant women, care givers of infants under 6 months old, and children and adults between 6 months to 24 years old. Adults between 25 and 64 years old who have medical issues that put them at risk, as well as healthcare and emergency medical service workers, are also considered priority recipients for the vaccine. Also, children under 10 years old are requested to come in for a second dosage of the vaccine four weeks after receiving the first vaccine. However, availability of the vaccine at that time in currently undetermined.

Guice also emphasized that H1N1 seemingly targets younger people; therefore, she addressed that people over 65 years old are not included in the priority group by the CDC, and she asked them to wait until those in the high-risk category receive their vaccine first.

“Unlike seasonal flu, where 90 percent of deaths caused by flu complications are in people over 65, 90 percent of H1N1 fatalities are in persons under age 65. In fact, the average age of Haralson County’s five confirmed H1N1 cases is just 12,” Guice said.

Though the vaccine is free for all patients, she requests that they bring in their private medical insurance cards, including Medicare, PeachCare and Medicaid information for record-keeping purposes. She added that a small administrative fee may be charged to their insurance; however, no one will be billed or expected to pay when they receive the service. In addition, clients who do not have insurance will not be charged or expected to pay.

Guice also stressed a high degree of safety pertaining to the manufacturing of the vaccine, which she said was produced “exactly the same way as our flu vaccines are made.”

After today, the H1N1 vaccine is scheduled to be distributed next Thursday, Nov. 19, at the same time, or until the vaccine supply is depleted. The department will also administer H1N1 flu shots during the week of Monday, Nov. 16, depending on the availability of the flu vaccine.

Guice further noted that last week the department concluded distribution of the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine made for distribution to healthy people between 2 and 49 years old.

For more information about the Haralson County Public Health Department’s H1N1 vaccine distribution schedule, call 770-646-5541. Updates about the H1N1 influenza, can be viewed at the Centers of Disease Control’s Web site at www.flu.gov.