First H1N1 vaccine doses to arrive in Minnesota.
ST. PAUL, MN. - Minnesota will receive its first supply of vaccine in late October for the novel H1N1 influenza virus in 28,000 doses of a weakened live virus vaccine in the form of nasal spray, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This shipment will be administered to health care and emergency medical workers as they are at greatest risk of being exposed to the virus, and they could expose medically vulnerable patients to the virus if they contract it.
"By administering the vaccine first to health care and emergency medical workers, we are helping to ensure that our health care system is in good shape to care for Minnesotans who become ill," said Dr. Sanne Magnan, Minnesota Commissioner of Health. "Allocating this initial supply of vaccine to health care and emergency medical workers is consistent with the CDC’s recommendations."
The CDC estimates more than 150 million doses of vaccine will eventually be available throughout the U.S. Anyone desiring the vaccine should be able to get it.
Because the vaccine will be distributed to states in various quantities over the coming weeks, those at highest risk of complications from the novel H1N1 influenza will be targeted to receive the vaccine first. High-risk individuals include:
• Pregnant women.
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age.
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel.
• People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old.
• People 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
More information will be made available by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) when additional supplies of the vaccine arrive. In the meantime, MDH officials continue to urge Minnesotans to get the seasonal flu vaccine. People should contact their health care provider or check the flu shot clinic finder at mdhflu.com to find a time and place where they can get vaccinated. Mdhflu.com also provides recent and accurate information regarding the spread of H1N1 virus, and provides statistics on deaths related to this virus. During the week of October 4-10, 2009, a review of the key indictors found that influenza activity continued to increase in the United States from the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:
•Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) continued to increase in the United States, and overall, are higher than what is expected for this time of the year. ILI activity now is equal to or higher than what is seen at the peak of many regular flu seasons.
•Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year.
•The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report has increased and exceeds what is normally expected at this time of year. In addition, 11 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week; 10 of these deaths were confirmed 2009 H1N1, and one was influenza A virus, but unsubtyped. Since April 2009, there have been 86 confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths; 39 of these have been reported to CDC since August 30, 2009.
•Forty-one states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. This many reports of widespread activity are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
•Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
