The H1N1 Vaccine is now available in Ventura County in the form of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV): the H1N1 FluMist. The other H1N1 vaccine, the injectable form, is expected on or around October 15th. At least one physician in the county began immunizing yesterday. His identity has not been revealed. “We are concerned that his office will be deluged with requests for vaccinations. His office has a disproportionate share of chronically ill children,” said Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County Public Health Officer. Additional doses have arrived in the county today (Tuesday) and are being distributed among local health care providers.

Those who will be given priority in receiving the vaccine over the next few days, until injectable vaccine arrives, are a few targeted groups: children from the ages of two years to 10 years of age and healthy household contacts (2-49 years) of infants under 6 months of age.

When sufficient supplies of swine flu vaccine become available over the next few weeks, groups that are permitted to receive the vaccine include: children from 6 months to 24 years of age, pregnant women, household contacts of children under 6 months of age, health care workers and emergency medical personnel, and those with high risk conditions up to 65 years of age. People not included in these groups have been shown to be at low risk for serious illness from the H1N1 virus.

The novel H1N1 (swine) vaccine, is available for county residents only. County clinics where the vaccine will be available can be found on the website at: www.vchca.org/ph
Call your physician’s office for vaccine availability.