Number of flu victims rises; clinics underway

Corey Noles photo Sarah Robertson from Bloomfield visits the Stoddard County Health Center Wednesday to receive the H1N1 FluMist vaccine during the two-day children's flu clinic this week. Administering the vaccine is McKenna Bell, R.N.

H1N1 cases confirmed

Only four confirmed cases of H1N1 have been reported to the county center. That figure, however, can be misleading, since patients being tested for the flu are typically tested only for Type A.

The test that confirms H1N1 is an expensive one, costing upwards of $500 in many cases, and has been deemed unnecessary by most clinics and physicians since the diagnosis does not in any way change the treatment. Most insurance companies do not cover the additional expense of the swab test that confirms or denies the flu to be seasonal (Type A) or H1N1.

Medical facilities and schools in the county are required to report findings to the Stoddard County Health Center (SCHC) by Friday of each week and so the above figures reflect information reported between June 1, 2009 and Oct. 17, 2009.

Vaccine supply

Pleimling says that eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants to be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus. The Bloomfield center currently has only the FluMist variety on hand for distribution, but expects to receive an additional supply of all three different versions of the H1N1 flu vaccine. "There are three main types of H1N1 flu vaccine, and each type is not right for everyone," says Pleimling.

The three types are the intranasal FluMist, the preservative-free injectable, and the regular injectable H1N1 flu vaccine.

"The FluMist," Pleimling explains, "is sued to vaccinate people from two to 49 years of age, unless they are pregnant or have an underlying health condition or are allergic to one of the components in the vaccine."

The preservative-free injectable vaccine comes in a pre-filled syringe for children and pre-filled syringes for adults and they are used to vaccinate pregnant women and children between the ages of six months and three years of age.

The most common form, the regular injectable H1N1 flu vaccine, is typically used to vaccinate those who are three years of age or older, Pleimling says, unless they are pregnant or have an allergy to one of the components.

Differences in H1N1 vaccines

Pleimling explains the differences in the vaccines, stating, "The two injectable forms of the vaccine contain a dead version of the H1N1 virus. The intranasal FluMist contains a small amount of weakened live virus."

Additionally, Pleimling says, "All flu vaccine currently available in the U.S. has been manufactured using eggs and is not recommended for those who have an allergy to eggs."

Clinics held this week

Children from age two through 18 were provided free of charge with the Flu Mist nasal spray for the H1N1 virus early this week at the Stoddard County Public Health Center. The two-day clinic served a total of 350 children, according to the center's director, Debbie Pleimling.

As more of the H1N1 influenza vaccine becomes available to the SCHC, additional clinics will be held, Pleimling says.

The local center has exhausted their supply of injectable H1N1 vaccine.

"At this time the Flu Mist is the only type of vaccine that we have available," Pleimling explains. "Anyone with a severe allergy to eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine should not take the mist. Neither should anyone with a weakened immune system or anyone with long-term health problems such as heart or lung disease, asthma, kidney or liver disease, a metabolic disease such as diabetes, or those with anemia or other blood disorders."

Children younger than five years of age with asthma or who experience episodes of wheezing during the past year should also not take the H1N1 vaccine in the FluMist form. Neither should anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders such as cerebral palsy that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems, nor those who are in close contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system. Children or adolescents who are on long-term aspirin treatment should also not take the FluMist vaccine, and it is not recommended for pregnant women.

The health center expects to continue receiving shipments of the H1N1 vaccine until enough has arrived to vaccinate everyone in the county who wishes to be vaccinated, officials say.

Dates of additional clinics will be published in The Daily Statesman.