Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Hospitals get H1N1 vaccine; Absenteeism up as SD2 braces for outbreaks
DIANE COCHRAN Of The Gazette Staff
Posted: Monday, October 12, 2009
County health officials have given 400 doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccine to two Billings hospitals for their patients.
The vaccine is to be reserved for healthy children ages 2 to 4.
St. Vincent Healthcare and Billings Clinic received the flu mist from RiverStone Health on Monday. The doses were left over after a clinic at West High on Saturday that vaccinated more than 300 toddlers.
They were the first doses of H1N1 vaccine to be administered in Yellowstone County. About 800 doses of the new vaccine arrived in Billings late last week.
RiverStone, the Montana Migrant Council and the Indian Health Board clinic will distribute the balance of the 800 doses.
Because the quantity is limited, local health officials are rationing the vaccine. Children are the first priority because they are most at risk for becoming severely ill with the H1N1 virus, which is commonly called the swine flu.
Children also are more likely to build up antibodies after exposure to a live virus vaccine, and the H1N1 flu mist contains a weakened version of the H1N1 virus.
Pregnant women are at high risk, too, but they cannot take a live vaccine. It is unknown when an injectable version of the vaccine, which is safe for pregnant women, will become available locally.
Eventually, there should be enough vaccine for everyone who wants it to get it, health officials say.
Until then, officials will evaluate who should be vaccinated as more doses become available.
Parents can call their child's pediatrician to schedule a vaccine appointment or simply ask for the vaccine at their child's next appointment.
Meanwhile, School District 2 is bracing for an outbreak of influenza among students.
More than 15 percent of students were absent at some schools on Monday. The normal absence rate is about 5 percent.
"We've had a spike in the number of kids being sent to the nurse and then sent home with fevers," said Superintendent Jack Copps.
School districts in other Montana cities have already experienced waves of flu-related absences. Anaconda closed its public schools on Friday because so many kids were sick.
The outbreaks come at the same time as a temporary shortage of seasonal influenza vaccine.
Vaccine manufacturers focused on producing and shipping the H1N1 flu vaccine are behind in producing the seasonal vaccine.
Because schools are not testing students, it isn't certain that a flu bug is responsible for the increased absences.
Flu season typically does not begin in Montana until late December or early January.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_04e12462-b788-11de-a1fa-001cc4c002e0.html
DIANE COCHRAN Of The Gazette Staff
Posted: Monday, October 12, 2009
County health officials have given 400 doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccine to two Billings hospitals for their patients.
The vaccine is to be reserved for healthy children ages 2 to 4.
St. Vincent Healthcare and Billings Clinic received the flu mist from RiverStone Health on Monday. The doses were left over after a clinic at West High on Saturday that vaccinated more than 300 toddlers.
They were the first doses of H1N1 vaccine to be administered in Yellowstone County. About 800 doses of the new vaccine arrived in Billings late last week.
RiverStone, the Montana Migrant Council and the Indian Health Board clinic will distribute the balance of the 800 doses.
Because the quantity is limited, local health officials are rationing the vaccine. Children are the first priority because they are most at risk for becoming severely ill with the H1N1 virus, which is commonly called the swine flu.
Children also are more likely to build up antibodies after exposure to a live virus vaccine, and the H1N1 flu mist contains a weakened version of the H1N1 virus.
Pregnant women are at high risk, too, but they cannot take a live vaccine. It is unknown when an injectable version of the vaccine, which is safe for pregnant women, will become available locally.
Eventually, there should be enough vaccine for everyone who wants it to get it, health officials say.
Until then, officials will evaluate who should be vaccinated as more doses become available.
Parents can call their child's pediatrician to schedule a vaccine appointment or simply ask for the vaccine at their child's next appointment.
Meanwhile, School District 2 is bracing for an outbreak of influenza among students.
More than 15 percent of students were absent at some schools on Monday. The normal absence rate is about 5 percent.
"We've had a spike in the number of kids being sent to the nurse and then sent home with fevers," said Superintendent Jack Copps.
School districts in other Montana cities have already experienced waves of flu-related absences. Anaconda closed its public schools on Friday because so many kids were sick.
The outbreaks come at the same time as a temporary shortage of seasonal influenza vaccine.
Vaccine manufacturers focused on producing and shipping the H1N1 flu vaccine are behind in producing the seasonal vaccine.
Because schools are not testing students, it isn't certain that a flu bug is responsible for the increased absences.
Flu season typically does not begin in Montana until late December or early January.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_04e12462-b788-11de-a1fa-001cc4c002e0.html