H1N1-Vaccination Update
Trumbull Monroe Health District Announces Expanded Eligible Priority Groups for H1N1 Vaccine
Trumbull, CT (November 20, 2009)-The Trumbull Monroe Health District is continuing to schedule appointments for the H1N1 vaccine to qualifying residents. The vaccine will be administered to priority groups outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CTDPH).
Residents who meet the following requirements are urged to call the Trumbull Monroe Health District at 452-5195 during regular office hours between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, to schedule their appointment:
Those eligible to receive the Nasal Mist (Influenza A (H1N1) Monovalent LAIV)
●Healthy children aged 24 months (2 years) through 24 years
●Healthy household contacts and primary caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age
●Healthy healthcare workers and EMS personnel who have direct contact with patients. The supply of vaccine is not yet sufficient to offer vaccine to all healthcare workers who have direct patient care contact. Priority will be given to health care workers who have direct patient care contact with children.
Those eligible to receive Inactivated, injectable (Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine)
●Pregnant women
●Household contacts and primary caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age
●All children aged 6 months through 83 months (6 months through 6 years)
●Children age 7 through 24 years with high risk medical conditions
●Healthcare workers and EMS personnel with medical conditions who have direct contact with patients. The supply of vaccine is not yet sufficient to offer vaccine to all healthcare workers who have direct patient care contact. Priority will be given to health care workers who have direct patient care contact with children.
Beginning November 19th, we have been cleared to expand the eligible priority groups to include all persons aged 25-64 years who have underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications. Please note that not all medical conditions put people at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
Eventually, vaccine will become available to those people who are not in the target groups. Current studies show that people who are over the age of 65 are less likely to get the 2009 H1N1 virus than younger people. Once there is more vaccine available, people 65 and older should get the vaccine as well.
The injectable form of H1N1 vaccine is in short supply and should not be used in healthy persons aged 2 years through 24 years if the nasal mist is available.
“We are pleased that the eligible priority groups have been expanded and our staff is working hard to vaccinate those that are eligible based on the supply of vaccine available to us,” states Patrice Sulik, Director of Health. Individuals in the qualifying priority groups can also check with their primary care physicians and specialists who also may be administering the H1N1 vaccine. For up-to-date information on H1N1 vaccine availability and priority groups that have been cleared to receive vaccine, visit www.trumbull-ct.gov or www.monroect.org.