Published: November 02, 2009 03:43 pm      

Woodward receiving H1N1 vaccine

The H1N1 flu vaccine is in Woodward at last.

The vaccine, which was first promised in September, will be made available to area residents this Saturday.

From 8 a.m. to noon, Woodward County Health Department nurses will give vaccinations at the First Christian Church, located at 9th Street and Oklahoma Avenue.

Woodward County Health Department Director Terri Salisbury said all children six-months-old to 18-years-old will take priority along with pregnant women.

Custodial parents of infants less than six-months-old also will take priority, Salisbury said, followed by people with chronic medical conditions, such as chronic pulmonary disease, renal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and immunosuppressive illnesses.

She said she encouraged people to get the vaccination Saturday if they are in the “priority” groups.

The vaccine will be in the form of a nasal mist.

She noted that people who have received confirmation of a rapid flu test ‘A’ strain between June and September are assumed to have already had H1N1 and “do not need an H1N1 vaccine.”

“H1N1 is an ‘A’ strain and it's the only circulating flu strain we have in Oklahoma at the present time,” she said, adding, “We haven’t seen the seasonal flu this season. The OSDH has not received any seasonal flu confirmation cultures.”

“Also, if you have received a seasonal flu mist in the last 28 days, you are not eligible for the H1N1 flu mist until ... 28 days have passed,” she said.

While the vaccine has been late to arrive, the Oklahoma Department of Health (OSDH) is projected to receive H1N1 vaccine in weekly shipments through early January 2010, Salisbury said.

More clinics will be held in Woodward in the future for people who aren’t able to get the shots this weekend.

Seasonal flu vaccine will not be offered during the H1N1 clinic at the First Christian Church, she said.

However, other seasonal flu clinics will be scheduled in the future as more vaccine becomes available, Salisbury said.

An OSDH hotline has been established for people who have questions about H1N1 influenza. The number is (866) 278-7134.

Phones will be answered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Salisbury said.

Also more information can be obtained at the OSDH Website at www.health.ok.gov or www.flu.gov or by calling the Woodward County Health Department at 256-6416.