Rio Grande County Public Health Agency Tel (719) 657-3352 Email:
925 6th Street, Room 101 Fax (719)657-2286
Del Norte, Colorado 81132
WHEN GETTING BOTH VACCINES
The seasonal vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine may be given at the same time to a person as long as not more than one of the vaccines is the nasal FluMist type of vaccine. There appears to be a delay, not a shortage, of seasonal flu vaccine. More shipments of the seasonal vaccine are expected between now and early November.
H1N1 VACCINE SAFETY:
“All available 2009 H1N1 vaccines have been tested for safety and effectiveness in human trials and are FDA approved. The CDC expects the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines to have a similar safety profile as the yearly seasonal flu vaccines, which have a very good safety track record” stated Dr Bill Brinton, San Luis Valley Regional Epidemiologist. The H1N1 vaccine is made just like the seasonal flu vaccine and is expected to be as effective against H1N1 as the seasonal flu vaccine is against the seasonal flu.
TESTING for H1N1:
Currently available rapid influenza diagnostic tests cannot distinguish between 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza A viruses. The symptoms of influenza (flu-like illnesses) are similar to those caused by many other viruses. Rapid flu testing can be done in the doctor’s office but a special test for H1N1 is more expensive and is performed only when people are hospitalized with suspected flu and for people such as pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems.
Since most people with flu-like illnesses will only be tested with a rapid flu test this season, the majority will not know whether they have been infected with 2009 H1N1 flu or a different virus. If you were ill but do not know if you had 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated, if your doctor recommends it.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER GETS THE FLU.
State and local health officials urge all persons with mild flu-like illness to stay home. Children and adolescents with fever should not go to day care or school. Adults with fever should not go to work until their fever has gone away for 24 hours (without use of fever reducing medicine). Individuals with severe illness, such as difficulty breathing, should contact their health care provider.
Schools and Businesses
Schools, businesses and other organizations are urged to plan for the flu. Businesses should consider removing any policy that requires employees to obtain a note from their doctor regarding their illness. These types of policies can needlessly tie up already over-burdened physicians’ offices. There are planning tool kits available to businesses, schools and faith based organizations and can be found by going online to www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/groups .
Wash hands frequently.
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve.
Stay home if you don’t feel well.
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