Shots, when they arrive, will be prioritized for pregnant women

The Fayette County Health Department is now out of the specialized H1N1 flu vaccine, officials said late Tuesday afternoon.

It is not known when another shipment of the vaccine might arrive, as public health officials receive no advance notice of shipments. Some 600 doses of the vaccine were administered at the health department.

The vaccine distributed was a nasal spray version, also known as Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV).

When H1N1 vaccines arrive in shot form at a later date, health officials plan to give them first to pregnant women and others in the current priority group who cannot receive the nasal spray flu vaccine. Pregnant women who contract the H1N1 flu variant are more likely to be admitted the hospital and can die from the virus.

Health officials urge pregnant women to seek treatment immediately upon noticing any flu symptoms, as treatment works best when started early.

From April 2009 through last week, the national Center for Disease Control has received reports of 95 lab-confirmed pediatric H1N1 deaths. Some 11 such deaths were reported between Oct. 11-17, CDC reported.

Because of the danger to young people, authorities decided to limit the nasal spray vaccine to:

• Children and young adults ages 2-24 years;

• Healthcare providers;

• Emergency responders; and

• Contacts or caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age.

To avoid transmitting the flu virus, people are encouraged to follow proper hygiene including frequent handwashing and staying away from others if you become sick. Those who become ill with fever should stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever is gone without the aid of fever-reducing medicine.

For more information on H1N1 and seasonal flu, visit www.flu.gov.