People up to 24 years of age are now eligible to receive the novel H1N1 2009, vaccine. The H1N1 Vaccine became available two weeks ago in Ventura County in the form of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV): the H1N1 FluMist. The other form of the vaccine, the injectable form, is expected to arrive soon. “The response so far has been good, and with an ample supply of the vaccine in the Live Attenuated form, we felt confident that we could expand our reach to include people from the age of two, up to the age of 24,” said Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County Public Health Officer. Previously the priority in receiving the vaccine was to the following targeted groups: all children from the ages of 2 years to 18 years of age (which was an increase from the 10 years of age limit one week earlier) and healthy, non-pregnant household contacts (2-49 years) of infants under 6 months of age. When more vaccine arrives in the county, additional, eligible groups will include pregnant women, and high risk individuals up to the age of 64.

“We are pleased to expand this group of people eligible to receive the vaccine as quickly as we have, due to our increased supply of the FluMist. That’s why we’re raising the age of eligibility to 24 years of age,” said Dr. Levin.

People not included in the above stated groups have been shown to be at low risk for serious illness from the H1N1 virus.

Call your physician’s office for vaccine availability. The novel H1N1 (swine) vaccine is available for county residents only and is available at Ventura County Health Care Agency Public Health Clinics. The Public Health Department recommends that anyone with questions about the H1N1 virus, as well as the vaccine or where they can receive it, should visit the Public Health website at: www.vchca.org/ph, where the opportunity to subscribe to automated email updates is offered. Residents are encouraged to call 2-1-1, or the Public Health H1N1 Hotline, at 981-5390 with any questions.