All Nevadans now eligible for H1N1 flu vaccine

Every Nevadan who wants a vaccination for the H1N1 flu is now eligible to receive one, local and state health officials confirmed today.

According to a State Health Division release, the vaccine will officially be offered to everyone on Dec. 18, but officials at the Southern Nevada Health District said the date is arbitrary — no person will be turned away before then, regardless of age or medical history.

“That strategy, to not turn people away, is because we might not get them back here,” said district spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore.

Sizemore said although the health district will not turn people away, health officials will concentrate on providing doses to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention priority groups, as well as people age 65 and older with chronic medical conditions, for the next week.

“That’s the main message,” she said. “We would ask the general population to come after Dec. 18, however, we won’t turn them away if they come.”

Members of the CDC priority groups for the vaccine include: pregnant women, caregivers of infants younger than 6 months, children and young adults 6 months to 24 years; adults up to 64 with chronic medical conditions, and health care workers with direct patient contact.

Today also marked the first day that people 65 and older with chronic medical conditions were eligible to receive H1N1 vaccinations.

Before today, anyone older than 64 did not qualify for an H1N1 shot, unless they were a member of another priority group, such as an EMT.

The announcement comes as the vaccine supply in Nevada continues to rise and the amount of people getting vaccinated falls.

Sizemore said the health district currently has 32,000 doses of both the injectable and nasal vaccine, and demand for the vaccine at the district’s clinics has slowed with each day.

A slowdown didn’t come as a surprise to the district, she said.

“It’s been available through other sources in the community for quite a while now,” Sizemore said.

The lack of lines at the clinics are in stark contrast to the lines in October and November, which sometimes wrapped around the building at the district’s main location at 625 Shadow Lane.

The vaccine supply was much smaller in those months, and the health district had been almost the only organization administering doses. But those days are gone now, with many private physicians and pharmacies administering the vaccine.

Health district officials urge everyone to get vaccinated.

“People with the CDC believe H1N1 will be the dominate flu strain again next season,” Sizemore said. “The vaccine should provide protection for next season, too.”

Nevada State Health Officer Dr. Tracey Green said in a release that public health authorities remain determined to saturate the high-risk populations “to ensure they have every opportunity to get vaccinated.”

“Meanwhile, I believe we have enough vaccine in state to begin vaccinating everyone who wants to be immunized,” she said.

Private providers and pharmacies have been notified of the policy change, which will remain in place contingent upon supply, Green said.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. �