H1N1 Influenza - VACCINE
This page was last updated February 26, 2010
Vaccine for H1N1 is available in Missoula County.
- Children's booster shot
- Vaccines administered
- Background
- First Priority Group for receiving H1N1 vaccine
- Second Priority Group for receiving H1N1 vaccine
- Seasonal influenza vaccine information
Vaccine is available at the Health Dept:
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On a walk-in basis at our Out Patient Clinic (first floor, 301 W. Alder, Missoula); Mon. Tue. Thur. & Fri. 9:30 - 4:30, and Wed. 10:00 - 4:30.
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No appointment needed.
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For more info, call the hotline at 258-4636.
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A reminder: children 9 years old and younger need to have a booster shot at least 28 days after their initial vaccination, to achieve full immunity; 40% of Missoula children who received their first vaccination are still in need of their booster.
Vaccines administered:
Background
The influenza illness caused by the 2009 H1N1 virus that first appeared last spring is declining. Since the spread of 2009 H1H1 influenza is likely to continue into 2010, and influenza is unpredictable, the Health Dept. encourages everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated to do so.
Fortunately, it is now easy to get vaccinated. The vaccine is available at the Health Department 's Out Patient Clinic, at several large pharmacies, and many health care providers. The Dept. encourages children of all ages and their families to take advantage of this opportunity.
Children are especially susceptible to this virus. We are particularly concerned about children nine and under who have not gotten their second H1N1 vaccination yet and who have not achieved full protection. Also many parents believe their children have already had H1N1 flu. If a sick person was not tested and “confirmed” as a case, the Centers for Disease Control recommend going ahead and get vaccinated. It won’t hurt anything to get the shot. There are many germs that can cause illness similar to H1N1 so the illness might have been caused by something else. Based on laboratory test results, less than half of the flu-like illnesses in Missoula have actually been caused by H1N1. In these cases the child is not immune to H1N1 influenza unless he or she is vaccinated.
CDC recommendations for who is at most risk for complications for H1N1
First Priority Group for receiving vaccine:
- pregnant women
- children ages 6 months through 4 years
- people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
- children ages 5 - 18 years with chronic health conditions
- health care and emergency medical workers with direct patient contact
Second Priority Group for receiving vaccine:
- all children aged 5 - 24 years, regardless of health condition
- all health care and emergency medical service personnel
- people ages 25 - 64 years who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
Missoula's 2009 H1N1 Info Line - 258-4636
Call the Info Line for updated information, and to leave a number for a call back for answers to questions.
Vaccine availability is increasing rapidly. Please call 258-4636 if you have questions.
Seasonal influenza vaccine:
There is still no sign of seasonal flu cases in the country. The seasonal flu vaccine is available at some Missoula pharmacies. Contact your provider, or call the influenza info line at 258-4636 for updates.
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