By Angie Thompson, Senior Reporter
TIFTON — The Tift County Health Department will host an H1N1 flu clinic from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. today at the front entrance of the Tifton Mall. The nasal spray form of the vaccine will be given during today’s clinic.
Health departments in the region have broadened the priority groups for those who should have the swine flu nasal spray vaccine. Healthy children 2 to 4 years old, direct caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age and health care and emergency medical personnel with direct patient contact now have first priority to receive the vaccine.
The H1N1 nasal spray vaccine is expected to be safe and effective; however, it will not prevent influenza-like illnesses caused by other viruses, such as seasonal flu. People interested in being protected from both seasonal flu and H1N1 should receive both vaccines this year.
Those who should not get the nasal pray form of the vaccine are pregnant women; anyone with w weakened immune system; anyone with long-term health conditions such as heart disease and asthma; anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders; anyone in close contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system; and children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment.
Also, anyone who has a severe allergy to eggs should not get the shot or the nasal spray vaccine.
A 50-year-old Irwin County man died Tuesday of complications of H1N1. His death was the first death reported in the 10-county health district attributed to swine flu.
Courtney Sheeley, who works as the South Health District’s public information officer, said Friday that the injectible version of the H1N1 vaccine is expected to arrive in the next week or so and be available to the public.
For more information on the H1N1 vaccine or for a full list of providers in Tift County, visit www.southhealthdistrict.com.
To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.
