As health departments in the area launched their push Monday to provide seasonal flu shots, public health officials got welcome news about the vaccine against novel influenza A H1N1 -- most older children appear to need only one shot to be protected.
Testing of the novel H1N1 vaccine showed 76 percent of those ages 10-17 who received the shot had a "robust" immune response eight to 10 days later, said Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
"The initial results are encouraging," he said, in that the vaccine is performing "just like the seasonal flu vaccine."
Children 6 months to 9 years were less likely to have a strong response and will likely need two doses 21 days apart. Testing on the response to a second dose is under way, and results probably will be available in October. Children 9 and younger typically need two shots of seasonal flu vaccine, so Dr. Fauci said the results are "not unexpected."
That means some children will need four shots to protect against seasonal flu and the new virus, which is infecting young people the most. Because seasonal flu vaccine is available now, parents might not want to wait for novel H1N1 vaccine to become available before getting children vaccinated, said Dr. Anne Shuchat, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Richmond County Health Department will visit schools next week as part of the push to get children the seasonal flu shot. During its first clinic Monday, business was slow early but picked up at the main clinic on Laney-Walker Boulevard.
"They've been trickling in all afternoon," said Clinical Nursing Director Teresa Catlett, who attributed it to the early start and the fact that many pharmacies are also offering the shot.
Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.
WHO SHOULD GET WHICH SHOT?
SEASONAL
The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for anyone who wants to avoid getting the flu. In particular, the vaccine is recommended for:
- Children 6 months to 19 years old
- Pregnant women
- People 50 or older
- People with underlying medical conditions that put them at greater risk of flu, such as asthma or diabetes
- Household contacts of infants less than 6 months old
- Health care workers and those who care for or live with someone at high risk of flu
H1N1
The vaccine will be targeted at five primary groups:
- Pregnant women
- Those who live with an infant younger than 6 months
- Health care workers and emergency medical services personnel
- Those 6 months to 24 years old
- Adults with underlying health problems that put them at greater risk for complications from flu, such as diabetes or lung disease.
FLU SHOT CLINICS
BURKE: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
COLUMBIA-EVANS: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
COLUMBIA-GROVETOWN: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
COLUMBIA-APPLING: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
EVANS LIBRARY: Wednesday, 1-4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
EMANUEL-SWAINSBORO: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.
EMANUEL-ADRIAN: Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
EMANUEL-TWIN CITY: Monday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
GLASCOCK: Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
JEFFERSON: Monday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
JENKINS: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LINCOLN: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed daily noon to 12:30 p.m.
McDUFFIE: Monday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
RICHMOND-SOUTH AUGUSTA: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
RICHMOND-LANEY-WALKER: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SCREVEN: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
TALIAFERRO: Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WARREN: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WILKES: Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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