Immediate Release
October 23, 2009
Little Rock— In order to reach more children with underlying medical conditions and possible risk for complications from H1N1 flu, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will be offering H1N1 vaccine as supplies permit to children ages 5-18 with underlying medical conditions at the Mass Flu Clinics on October 29, 30, 31. We will have seasonal vaccine available for the general public, and, the H1N1 vaccine available for pregnant women and children ages 6 months through 4 years.
Previously scheduled school clinics scheduled through December statewide will continue to give seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine as supplies allow to students whose parents request the vaccine for their children. Additionally, the ADH will work with public and private schools that have not scheduled a clinic and work towards meeting their needs.
As Arkansas gets more H1N1 vaccine, those doses will continue to be given to priority groups first. Priority groups include pregnant women, children ages 6 months through 24 years, health care workers and emergency medical responders, people caring for infants under 6 months of age, and people ages 25-64 years with underlying health conditions.
If your child is experiencing flu-like symptoms (fever over 100 degrees, headache, body aches, sore throat, dry cough, runny nose, and in some instances vomiting and diarrhea) and especially if they have underlying medical conditions, call your private physician for advice on what to do. Children with underlying medical conditions include those with: chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus); are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection; are residents of long-term care facilities.
Vaccine supplies are expected to increase in the coming months, and there will be plenty of vaccine for any Arkansan that would like to receive it.
Additional Mass Flu Clinics will be scheduled at later dates.
For more information go to www.healthyarkansas.com or www.flu.gov .
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