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H1N1 vaccine arrives for high risk patients

  • Published
  • By Linda Frost
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Wilford Hall Immunization Clinic received limited amounts of H1N1 vaccine for high risk patients. This vaccine is for high risk dependents only, not active-duty, with few exceptions.

It's expected more vaccine will become available for all others by late December.

"The limited amount of injectable vaccine or shots must be reserved for the high risk category at this time," said Maj. Christopher Calabria, Wilford Hall Immunization Clinic's officer in charge.

However, the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine is available for healthy dependents ages 2-49, said Major Calabria.

"Once we receive more vaccine, people will be able to choose between the injectable vaccine or the nasal spray,"  he said.

Per recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine is currently available for the following high risk groups:

1. All pregnant women (dependent and active-duty)
2. All children 6 months to 4-years old
3. Individuals in close contact with infants less than 6 months of age (dependent and active-duty)
4. High risk children 5 to18 years old
5. Healthy patients 2 to 49 years old (dependents only) are able to get the nasal spray vaccine only at this time. We are reserving the limited amounts of injectable vaccine (shots) for high risk patients at this time; currently healthy patients cannot opt to get the shot.

High risk conditions include chronic lung problems (including asthma), cardiovascular problems (except high blood pressure), kidney or liver problems, cognitive problems, neurologic/neuromuscular problems, hematologic (blood) problems, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes), or immune-suppression (including that caused by medication or HIV).

Once the supply is adequate to meet the above demands, vaccination will be extended to all patients age 6 months to 24 years and high risk patients age 25-64 years. This is expected to happen in early December.

Finally, once the demand is met to vaccinate high risk 25-64 year olds, vaccination will be extended to all persons 65 years old and older. Current studies indicate the risk of H1N1 disease is lower in this age group because most have protection. This is expected to occur mid- to late-December at the earliest.

For active-duty, less than 1 percent of the vaccine has been received from the Department of Defense supply. There is enough supply to vaccinate only deployers, pregnant women and individuals in close contact with infants younger than 6 months of age.

According to Major Calabria, the H1N1 vaccine for basic trainees is due in by the first week in December. The shipment to cover health care workers, including active-duty and civilian, is expected to arrive by the week of Nov. 30, while enough vaccine for all active-duty members is expected by the end of December.

The Immunization clinic is a walk-in clinic open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Tuesdays when it is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, go to www.whmc.af.mil/h1n1/