State Health Department Recommends Wider Use
of 2009 H1N1 Vaccinations for All Coloradans
Increased Availability of Vaccine Allows for Move Beyond High
Risk Groups
DENVER – The Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment today officially recommended that public health agencies and
health care providers make 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccinations available to
all individuals as supplies allow, providing access beyond just the
high-risk populations.
“Our local public health partners have indicated
that they have successfully met all or nearly all of the demand
for vaccine from those in the national priority groups, and
because of their hard work in meeting this need, they are ready
to provide access to this important vaccine for the rest of the
population who seek it,” said Ned Calonge, the state’s chief
medical officer. “The federal government is continuing to send
vaccine to the state, and as our supply continues to improve, we
want to promote it for all those who want this protection.”
So far, the state health department has arranged
the delivery of more than a million doses of the 2009 H1N1
influenza vaccine to all local public health agencies and
approximately 1,500 providers. State and local public health
agencies have worked collaboratively in distributing in nine
weeks what typically would be distributed in an entire flu
season.
“We are very appreciative of our local public
health agencies’ efforts to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine to their
clients, and of the public’s patience in waiting for the
immunization,” said Calonge. “This unique flu season has put our
state public health system, as well as those we serve, to the
test.”
While most Coloradans can receive the vaccine,
people who should not receive the influenza vaccine include:
* People allergic to eggs and persons who have had a severe
reaction to a previous flu vaccination
* People who got Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks
of getting an influenza vaccine
* Children less than 6 months of age
* People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever
(they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated)
A total of 1,925 hospitalizations from 53
counties have been reported in Colorado so far this flu season.
A total of 57 deaths (9 pediatric and 48 adult) have been
reported. State laboratory surveillance continues to show that
virtually all influenza viruses currently circulating in
Colorado are 2009 H1N1 virus.
People with questions about H1N1 are encouraged
to call CO HELP at 1-877-462-2911 or go to
http://www.colorado.gov/nofluforyou. For information on flu
vaccination clinics, go to
http://www.immunizecolorado.com.
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State of Colorado,
Department
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