Only one flu clinic next week - open for broader groups

H1N1 Information for the week of November 23rd

In previous weeks, vaccine has been offered to specific subset target groups recommended by ACIP/CDC. We now have been allocated enough vaccine to expand the target group to a broader population. The priority groups now include:
• Pregnant women
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants under 6 months of age (including parents, siblings and daycare providers)
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• Persons aged 6 months – 24 years
AND
• Persons aged 25-64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
These medical conditions include:
• Asthma
• Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury.
• Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
• Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
• Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
• Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes)
• Kidney disorders
• Liver disorders
• Metabolic disorders
• Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)

*If you do not fall into one of the above populations, we ask that you be patient as we presently only have a limited supply of vaccine. Once the county and tribe have adequate amount of vaccine, availability will open up to the healthy adult and elderly populations.

FREE H1N1 walk-in clinics will be held from 1-4 PM every Tuesday at:
• Lake County Public Health in Polson
and
• Tribal Health in Arlee, Elmo, Ronan, and St. Ignatius.

Please note that all Lake County/Flathead Indian Reservation residents, both Tribal and non-Tribal, are eligible to receive H1N1 vaccine at any one of the walk-in clinics.


For more information please call the Influenza Information Line at (406) 883-7292.