October 14, 2009

CDHD Getting Close to Delivering H1N1 (swine) Flu Vaccine

The Central District Health Department (CDHD) is getting more shipments of H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine every week and is close to being able to open large-scale vaccination clinics for priority groups. The clinic locations have been selected and a tentative schedule established. CDHD must receive more vaccine before opening the Point of Dispensing (POD) locations. CDHD hopes to open the PODs by the end of October.

Central District Health Department PODs for Priority Groups will operate in the following locations:

• Ada County:
  • The former K-Mart store - 1001 Park Center Blvd., Boise
  • The former Comp USA store - 1195 N Milwaukee St., Boise
• Boise CountyL
  • Boise Basin Library - 123 Montgomery St, Idaho City
  • Crouch Community Hall - 342 Village Circle, Garden Valley
• Elmore County
  • Mountain Home Junior High School - 1600 East 6th South, Mountain Home
• Valley County:
  • Cascade Community Center - 109 W Pine St., Cascade
  • Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School – 125 Samson Trail, McCall

Priority groups include:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
• People ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

To better reach those in priority groups first, CDHD is also coordinating and supporting the following activities:

• Starting Monday October 19th CDHD will coordinate with school nurses to vaccinate elementary school students in the Meridian and Boise school districts.
• In coming weeks all K – 12 public school students in Ada County, McCall, and Glenns Ferry will have the option of vaccination in school.
• Private and charter school students are encouraged to go to one of the POD locations for their vaccinations.
• Vaccine is being distributed to some obstetrician clinics for pregnant females (call your provider to get more info).
• Distribute vaccine to homebound individuals through their home health agencies (call your agency for more information).
• Administer vaccine at homeless shelters.
• Distribute vaccine to Boise State University students and staff on campus through the BSU Health & Wellness Center.
• Administer vaccine to first responders and healthcare workers.
• Distribute vaccine to jails, prisons or other detention centers for vaccination of high priority groups.

Once good coverage of priority groups has been achieved (which should take 4 – 5 weeks) CDHD will encourage all citizens to protect themselves, coworkers and the community by getting the H1N1 flu vaccination. CDHD will make the vaccine more broadly available in the community through health providers and through special flu clinics at the three district offices in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home.

Getting the H1N1 flu shot is important even if the number of reported cases is low and severity of the disease mild. Public health expects the H1N1 flu will continue through the fall and winter, and possibly through summer and into the next flu season. To decrease the burden of disease in the community and protect those at greatest risk for poor outcomes, CDHD encourages everyone who is able to receive the vaccine to get it.

For more information on the availability of H1N1 flu vaccine visit the CDHD website at www.cdhd.idaho.gov or call the Flu Hotline at 321-2222.