ODH ORDERS ADDITIONAL H1N1 FLU VACCINE

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) submitted orders for 574,200 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week. The vaccine will be shipped directly to 1,200 enrolled medical providers in 88 Ohio counties, including colleges, universities, local health departments and pharmacies.

The order includes 102,200 doses of nasal-spray vaccine and 472,000 shots of H1N1 flu vaccine and for the first time, this vaccine will be available to all Ohioans who wish to be protected against H1N1 flu.

The vaccine orders should begin arriving at provider offices and clinics today, according to CDC.

ODH is also reminding parents and health care providers that children younger than 10 should receive two doses of H1N1 flu vaccine in order to achieve optimal protection against pandemic flu.  Children who had their first dose on or before November 16^th, 2009 are now eligible for their second dose.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the two doses of H1N1 vaccine be separated by 28 days to be effective.  

ODH has previously ordered 2,672,100 doses of H1N1 vaccine, bringing Ohio 's total to 3,246,300 doses thus far. This represents Ohio 's total allotment at this time of H1N1 influenza vaccine. More vaccine is expected to be available in the coming weeks.

For more information on vaccine availability, check the ODH Web site at http://www.flu.ohio.gov or call the ODH H1N1 information line at 1-866-800-1404 8 a.m. to  5 p.m. Monday through Friday.