State Public Health Director Announces Expansion of H1N1 Flu Vaccine Availability to All Illinoisans

From the Illinois Department of Public Health
December 10, 2009

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold today announced that beginning Tuesday, December 15, 2009, all Illinoisans will be eligible to receive an H1N1 flu vaccination. In addition to local health departments and private physicians, Illinoisans will be able to go to many retail pharmacies for H1N1 flu vaccinations starting no later than December 21, 2009.

“For the past two months, local health departments, hospitals and physicians have worked diligently to reach those considered most at-risk for serious H1N1 flu illness by holding walk-in, drive-up, school-based and appointment-only clinics,” Dr. Arnold said. “With more vaccine arriving each week, we are now encouraging providers to begin offering H1N1 vaccine on December 15 to all Illinoisans who have not yet been vaccinated.”

From now until December 15, providers who received H1N1 vaccine will continue to focus vaccination efforts exclusively on serving the needs of the priority population groups – health care and emergency medical service workers who provide direct patient care; pregnant women; people who live with or care for children less than six months of age; all people 6 months to 24 years; and people 25 to 64 years of age with chronic medical conditions. Beginning December 15, these individuals will continue to be eligible for vaccination, along with all other Illinoisans who are not in the risk groups. Local providers will have flexibility to determine if it is necessary to continue prioritizing the vaccine for the at-risk populations, based on the needs in their local area.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) evaluated several factors before making the decision to lift restrictions on vaccine eligibility, including prior vaccine distribution, feedback from local health departments and discussions with other state and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health officials.

Pharmacies may charge a fee for administering the vaccine, typically between $12 and $22. This fee is covered by most health insurance. People should bring their health insurance information with them to the pharmacy, and they may need to submit a receipt to their insurance company for reimbursement. Those without health insurance can receive an H1N1 flu vaccination free of charge at all local health departments in Illinois.

For a list of public H1N1 vaccination sites and clinic times, as well as additional information on the 2009 H1N1 flu, log onto www.ready.illinois.gov.

For questions about the H1N1 flu, call the Illinois Flu Hotline at 866- 848-2094 – translators are available.

First Shipment of New H1N1 Vaccine Expected this Week – More Coming

From the Illinois Department of Public Health
Wednesday, October 7, 2009

SPRINGFIELD – Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, announced today the first shipments of the new H1N1 flu vaccine are anticipated to arrive in Illinois today and tomorrow. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allotted 57,000 doses of the new H1N1 flu vaccine, in nasal spray form only, to the State of Illinois, excluding the City of Chicago. Chicago receives its own allotment of the new H1N1 vaccine.

The new H1N1 vaccine will be delivered directly from vaccine manufacturers to local health departments and hospitals across Illinois, outside Chicago, to begin vaccinating the following CDC designated priority populations:

• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six-months of age
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• All people from six-months through 24-years of age
• Persons aged 25-64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza

“Illinois will continue to receive additional shipments of the new H1N1 vaccine so there will be enough vaccine for everyone,” Dr. Arnold said. “Certain people are at higher risk of complications due to the new H1N1 flu and others work with populations at risk of complications, so we ask you to allow these people to receive their new H1N1 flu vaccine first. Again, additional doses of the new H1N1 vaccine will be delivered to providers in Illinois almost daily so there will be enough vaccine to go around. In the meantime, get a seasonal flu shot and take everyday preventive actions – 3 Cs: Clean, Cover and Contain - to stay healthy.”

The initial shipment of new H1N1 vaccine is in nasal spray form and is only licensed for people age two through 49-years without underlying medical conditions, including pregnancy. The CDC has said injectable vaccines, approved for all populations except those with contraindications, will begin being shipped next week.

It is anticipated that these first shipments of the new H1N1 vaccine will be offered to health care workers, a CDC priority population, and subsequent shipments of the vaccine will be delivered in the next weeks and months to local health departments, hospitals and designated providers across Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health is currently receiving provider agreements to compile a complete list of locations where the public can receive a new H1N1 vaccination.

To stay healthy and limit the spread of flu, remember the 3 Cs:

CLEAN – wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs.
COVER – your cough and sneeze with a tissue or sleeve, not your hand.
CONTAIN – contain your germs. Stay home if you are sick.

For more information log onto http://www.ready.illinois.gov/