Small Town News

Swine flu vaccine now in county

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The H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine has arrived in Big Horn County and will be available free at the Big Horn County Public Health offices in Greybull and Lovell this Friday.

The walk-in clinics will run from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. this Friday only. Public Health Nurse Sue Wiley said the county has received 100 units of the nasal mist flu vaccine and will be administered first to healthy people ages 2 to 49. As a recipient of the federal H1N1 flu grant, Wiley said the Public Health office cannot charge to administer the vaccine.

She said since there are only 100 units supplied to the county at this time, the nasal mist vaccine is available only through the Public Health Office.

Priority will be given to children ages 2 and up; parents and caregivers of household members of infants under 6 months and healthcare and emergency service workers.

She said the county should be receiving the vaccine weekly and in a few weeks should be receiving the injection-type vaccine which will be available to children under age 2 and to pregnant women, since they are not able to take the nasal mist vaccine.

Wiley said the H1N1 flu vaccine is specifically for H1N1 flu. She said the seasonal flu vaccine usually includes three types of influenza viruses, but this year's does not include H1N1, thus a special vaccine had to be manufactured. She said Public Health and Centers for Disease Control officials are recommending people receive both vaccinations.

"Our initial strategy was to get all of our seasonal flu clinics done before the H1N1 vaccine arrived," Wiley said. However, seasonal flu shipments have been delayed and the Public Health Office is still waiting on more vaccine. The seasonal flu peaks around February or March.

"We know that the H1N1 flu is already widespread in Wyoming," Wiley said.

Wiley said when the number of doses increases for the county, the vaccine will be available at Midway Clinic, North Big Horn Hospital Clinic and the Greybull Clinic. The healthcare providers are allowed to charge an "administration fee" for administering the vaccine.

She said once the injection vaccine is available, the vaccine will be given to five priority groups first -- pregnant women, children 6 months to 24 months, caregivers of children under 6 months, persons age 25-64 with underlying health care conditions, healthcare and emergency service workers.

"We hope there will be enough for everyone to get the vaccine," Wiley said.

"We are pushing the prevention methods," Wiley said. Contact the Public Health Office at 765-2371 for more in formation



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© 2010 Greybull Standard Greybull, Wyoming. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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