Story Created:
Nov 9, 2009 at 7:46 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 9, 2009 at 7:46 PM EST
SOUTH BEND — H1N1 vaccines are slowly but surely beginning to trickle into local counties, but not everyone on the priority lists is receiving them just yet.
A shipment of 2,600 doses that arrived today at the St. Joseph County Health Department was funneled out to various medical practices and hospitals.
Although officials say demand is mostly being met in St. Joseph County, vaccines are being limited to specific target groups: children younger than age 19, pregnant woman and parents who have infants under the age of 6 months.
People not being covered that are on the priority list include those 20 to 24 and people ages 25 to 64 with health conditions that make them a higher risk of medical complications because of the influenza.
Barb Baker, nursing supervisor for the St. Joseph County Health Department, said they are hopeful the vaccine will be offered to all target groups starting next week.
Other counties simply haven’t received enough of the doses to tackle every target group, but expect more shipments soon.
St. Joseph County health officials say it could take several more weeks before vaccines are sent to schools.
"There’s just too many school districts in the county," said Baker, who added the county has received about a third of what is expected. "We’re encouraging parents to take kids out of school and get a shot."
As of last week, 11,237 vaccines had been administered to St. Joseph County, although that number does not include today’s shipment and another shipment at the end of last week that were distributed to local university health centers.
Elkhart County, meanwhile, has struggled to keep up with demand. Many people have been inquiring about getting the vaccine at the Elkhart County Health Department, but have been told they will have to wait.
"I’m hoping by Christmas we’ll have a much better situation and not as much need for it," said Dr. Daniel Nafziger, director of the health department. He urged residents to be patient as shipments continue to come in once or twice a week.
"They’re coming sporadically," he said. "And the shipment sizes usually varies."
The St. Joseph County Health Department will offer both the shot and nasal mist form of the vaccine at clinics Tuesday and Thursday at the County-City building in South Bend. The clinics run from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) and Van Buren/Cass District Health Department are expecting a shipment of H1N1 vaccine for both places this week, Frederick Johansen, medical director for BCHD, said.
"It will be a little bit less the next week or two, which amounts to about 10 to 20 percent than previous," Johansen said.
The shipment of vaccines will be given to children 9 years old and younger for their second dose, he added.
So far in Berrien County, 16,000 doses have been administered between five public clinics that received 6,000 doses, with the remainder passed to physicians and hospitals, he said.
In Cass and Van Buren counties, there has been 13,500 doses divided between providers and three public clinics giving 2,500 doses.
"We have overseen a pretty good amount of distribution and I feel confident that we have got every high risk-child and pregnant woman," Johansen said. "Eventually, we hope to expand to people that are not high risk."
