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DHH Outlines H1N1 Vaccine Distribution

According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the first doses of the state's initial allotment of H1N1 vaccine-26,000 doses of nasal spray-have begun arriving at pediatric providers across the state who chose to provide H1N1 vaccine and are ready to administer it to their patients. These providers will use the H1N1 flu vaccine with patients in their practices who meet the requirements for target populations for this particular vaccine-healthy 2 to 5 year olds. These providers ordered this vaccine specifically for their patients, and will be contacting their patients directly to set up appointments for vaccination.

Over the next few weeks, H1N1 flu shots will also be available in nasal spray and injectable forms for children and adults through a large network of participating providers. Initially the H1N1 vaccinations will be available to target groups, people who are at highest risk for transmitting and complications from the new virus. Those in target groups for the H1N1 vaccine should begin contacting their private provider or retail locations now to inquire about availability of the new vaccine, and should make an appointment to get it. Target groups for the H1N1 vaccine include:
*Pregnant women

*Health care and emergency medical services personnel

*People from the ages of 6 months to 24 years

*People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
*People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for flu complications because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

The H1N1 vaccine is a federal asset that is being sent from the federal government through a distribution company directly to the 1,600 Louisiana providers that ordered the most amount of vaccine. More than 2,000 providers registered to administer the vaccine in Louisiana, and the state will begin working in three to four weeks to break down smaller shipments to the remaining 400 providers. There are five separate formulations of the H1N1 vaccine, and not every preparation will be appropriate for every target population. Each week, DHH will work with providers across the state to assess the demand for the H1N1 vaccine, and will place orders with the federal government based on that demand and the amount of each type of vaccine available that week.

Following the initial shipment received this week, providers in the state will continue to receive more vaccine every five to ten days for the next three months, including formulations that are appropriate for more groups, such as the injectable vaccine in both adult and child doses. Next week, the state expects providers to receive more than 40,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine.
Groups targeted for vaccination with these next doses include more young children, pregnant women and front line health care workers, those with direct patient care responsibilities.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available at a wide variety of providers within three to four weeks (late October to early November) for other target groups, such as parents and caregivers of infants and non-elderly adults with chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart conditions. The entire H1N1 vaccination campaign will take around four months, and by the end of January every Louisianian who wants a vaccine should have access to it.

In the coming weeks, the department will launch an online search tool with Google®-style maps showing the location of providers who have registered to administer the H1N1 vaccine. In the next four to six weeks, vaccine will be offered to the public at selected locations, which will be posted at www.FightTheFluLA.com. Retail locations and public health-sponsored sites that have registered to distribute vaccine when it becomes available include Walgreens, CVS, parish health units, and school-based health clinics.