From the Commissioner
“I was thoroughly impressed by the organization and patience of the people I met waiting to be vaccinated at an after school clinic in Norfolk targeted to those in priority groups. I was extremely proud of all of the nurses, staff and volunteers who worked cheerfully to vaccinate more than 200 individuals in the first hour.
After another clinic in northern Virginia, the health department received a note that was titled, ‘A wonderful experience at the H1N1 flu clinic.’ It went on to read, ‘All of the staff I encountered were amazingly pleasant, helpful, patient and efficient. The whole clinic worked like a well-oiled machine and for that I am truly grateful.’
And let me say that I am truly grateful for the public health workers and the people who are working together in this unprecedented vaccination process and to those who continue to work on many other core public health initiatives during this very busy time.”
–Dr. Karen Remley, State Health Commissioner
- As of November 19, more than 1.2 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been distributed to Virginia.
- Children 9-years-old and younger need a second booster dose of vaccine after four weeks. The second dose can be received in either mist or shot form at your child’s school, doctor’s office or health department. Bring immunization card for reference.
- November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. More than 500,000 Virginians have diabetes. Those with diabetes are at higher risk for complications from the flu. The best protection is vaccination.
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As of November 12, one million doses of novel H1N1 vaccine have been delivered to or are in transit to vaccination sites in Virginia.
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An updated, Google Web-based flu clinic locater tool for vaccination locations will be available on Monday, November 16.
- As of November 5, more than 800,000 doses of vaccine have been released to Virginia.
- Vaccine results from clinical trials for pregnant women conducted at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) have been extremely positive. The report states the H1N1 vaccine boosts immunity and showed no safety concerns.
- As of October 30, there have been more than 300 school-based clinics.
- Vaccine is starting to arrive in doctors’ offices.
- The nasal mist form of the H1N1 vaccine is safe, preservative-free and is a natural approach to developing immunity. You’re eligible for the nasal mist if you are between 2 and 49 years of age with no underlying medical conditions and not pregnant.
- As of October 27, more than 500,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine have come (or are in transit) to Virginia. Of these, about half have gone to private sector physicians and hospitals and half have gone to local health departments.
- These initial shipments are targeted to vaccinating the CDC-designated priority groups.
- VDH is ordering 100% of the amount of vaccine allotted to Virginia by the CDC and does so immediately upon availability. CDC allots the vaccine to each state according to state population (Virginia receives 2.5172% of every allotment). Vaccine continues to arrive in the state on a regular basis.
- As a result of manufacturing delays, the amount of novel H1N1 vaccine currently available to Virginia is much less than anticipated. There are and will continue to be delays in vaccine availability.
- Local health department's plans for school-based vaccination efforts have had to be slowed down because of these production delays.
- Our plan is to get out vaccine, even if it is a relatively small amount, as soon as possible to every hospital and to every private provider likely to serve priority group patients that are registered vaccinators.
