First shipment of H1N1 vaccine arrives in Cape Girardeau County

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center has received the first doses of the H1N1 vaccine but has yet to administer any doses.

Assistant director Jane Wernsman said the health department received 400 doses late Monday. Wernsman said the center is working with local health care providers to determine which health care workers and emergency personnel will receive the nasal spray vaccine.

While Wernsman is unsure when the center will receive additional doses, she said they are doing everything possible to be prepared when more doses of the vaccine arrives.

A box of the nasal spray swine flu vaccine is shown here in Oregon City, Ore., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

"We're anticipating it," Wernsman said. "We want to reassure the public that eventually in time there should be an ample supply for anyone wanting to receive the H1N1 vaccine. We'll make every effort to get that information out to the public as soon as it's available."

Federal officials divided the shipment of nasal spray to states based on population. Missouri received 34,100 doses, which were then distributed to each county health center.

About 70,000 additional doses are scheduled to arrive next week. Half will be the nasal spray and the rest will be shots. The nasal spray is only approved for healthy persons from 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant and who do not have underlying medical conditions.

By mid-October another 200,000 shots and 78,000 nasal spray doses are scheduled for delivery in Missouri.

Despite the delay, Wernsman anticipates everyone eventually will have the opportunity to receive the H1N1 vaccination.

"We're not getting any specific date" when the vaccines will arrive, she said. "With each week that passes we're more hopeful."

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, 435 confirmed H1N1 virus cases have been reported in the state, including one in Cape Girardeau County.

While Wernsman is unsure of the effect the virus will have on area residents, she said the center has treated patients for flu throughout the summer. Wernsman said most years the department reports few to none cases of the flu from June through August.

"So it's continued year-round, which is a break from the norm," Wernsman said. "We're urging people to practice good health habits, from covering their mouths when sneezing to staying at home if they're ill. I feel that we've done all we can to prepare for this and will have to wait and see what happens."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent address:

1121 Linden St., Cape Girardeau, MO