Local H1N1 vaccination priority groups modified

Central District Health Department (CDHD) will set up a Point of Dispensing (POD) operation at the Mountain Home Junior High School, 1600 E. 6th South St., on Friday, Oct.30, from 12:30-7 p.m. to administer H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine to Elmore County Priority Group members only.

The priority groups have been modified from those announced earlier because the vaccine supply is extremely limited, CDHD officials said. As a result, not all those seeking vaccine will be able to get it. Additional PODs will be scheduled as more vaccine becomes available, according to Dave Fotsch, CDHD public information officer.

The definition of Priority Groups is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP established guidelines for when vaccine is in short supply to target those individuals most susceptible to serious illness from the flu.

The groups include:

* Pregnant women,

* People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,

* Health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact (i.e. diagnosing and treating patients with flu-like illness),

* Children 6 months to 4 years of age,

* Children 5 to 18 with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, lung, heart, liver or kidney disease, or are immune-compromised because of cancer treatment or HIV.

The process of going through the POD operation can be completed more quickly by downloading and filling out the Consent Form found on the CDHD website: www.cdhd.idaho.gov.

Additional questions can be directed to the CDHD Flu Hotline 321-2222 or by visiting the CDHD website