The Vaccine

A vaccine for the new H1N1 virus is now available, but only in limited quantities. The Saint Louis County Department of Health has been receiving regular shipments of the vaccine for several weeks now and is in the process of distributing it throughout Saint Louis County.

Those 10 years of age and older only need one dose to achieve immunity.  Those less than 10 years of age (6 months – 9 years old) need two doses at least four weeks apart to achieve immunity.

The vaccine comes in two basic forms: the injectable form (shot) and the intranasal form (FluMist®).  The injectable form contains dead H1N1 virus and can be administered to anyone over the age of six months, unless they are allergic to one of its components (such as eggs).  The intranasal form (FluMist®) contains an attenuated (weakened) version of the live H1N1 virus and can therefore only be administered to healthy people between 2 and 49 who are not pregnant.

Missouri state law did require that children under three years of age and pregnant women only be administered flu vaccine without preservative (Thimerosal); however, that law has been temporarily waived because of the current flu pandemic.  There is simply not enough preservative-free vaccine available to meet the need.

Vaccination Priority Groups

Certain segments of the population are being offered the vaccine first. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) have both indicated that the new H1N1 flu poses a higher risk for these groups, either because they are more likely to contract the new H1N1 flu, or because they are particularly susceptible to flu complications if they do get sick. These high priority groups are:

• Pregnant women;
• Youth from 6 months of age through 24 years of age;
• Caregivers of and those who live with infants under the age of 6 months;
• Adults from 25 years of age through 64 years of age with an underlying health condition that makes them more susceptible to flu complications; and
• Emergency medical service personnel and healthcare workers.

Please note that these five groups had been temporarily restricted even further because of the lack of available H1N1 vaccine; however, as of November 16^th, 2009, the decision was made to revert back to the more general CDC-identified priority group listing because of the increasing availability of the vaccine. As even more vaccine becomes available, these restrictions will be relaxed even further and the vaccine will be made available to the general public.

Vaccine Distribution

In order to reach the priority groups listed above, the health department has been working closely with OB/GYNs, pediatricians, internists, public and private schools, daycare centers, clincs, hospitals, and emergency responder agencies to distribute the vaccine. Pregnant women should contact their OB/GYN and parents and guardians should contact their children’s pediatrician (please note: not all OB/GYNs and pediatricians are participating in the distribution program).  Parents and guardians of school-aged children should contact their schools to find out if they are participating in the distribution program.

For those who are not able to obtain a vaccination through their OB/GYN, pediatrician, internist, or school, the Saint Louis County Department of Health will be sponsoring public H1N1 vaccination clinics in December and January at various locations around the county. Any county resident who falls into one of the above-listed priority groups will be eligible to be vaccinated at one of these events. The details for events being held on December 5^th can be found below.

Vaccination Clinics

On Saturday, December 5^th, there will be free H1N1 vaccination events at five (5) locations for residents of Saint Louis County, similar to the ones held on November 7^th. To participate, you will have to be a member of one of the priority groups mentioned above. You will also need to bring proof of residency such as a driver’s license or a utility bill.

The five locations are:

Ferguson-Florissant School District Administration Building 1005 Waterford Drive Florissant, MO 63033 Kirkwood High School 801 West Essex Avenue Kirkwood, MO 63122 Parkway-Central High School 369 North Woods Mill Road Chesterfield, MO 63017 Ritenour High School 9100 Saint Charles Rock Road Breckenridge Hills, MO 63114 Rockwood-Summit High School 1780 Hawkins Road Fenton, MO 63126

Participants will need a line ticket in order to attend a vaccination event. Line tickets will be handed out starting at 7:00 a.m. at each of the five (5) locations listed above. Line tickets will only be good for the location at which they are handed out. Vaccinations will begin at 8:30 a.m.

If you are pregnant, but for religious reasons are unable to travel on a Saturday to attend one of the public H1N1 vaccination clinics, please contact the Department of Health by sending an e-mail to flu.doh@stlouisco.com. You will be contacted by the department to make alternate arrangements.