State Health Department Asks for Citizens’ Cooperation

DENVER – Increasing supplies of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in Colorado are allowing several county health departments and other vaccination providers to continue their vaccinations of people at higher risk for flu complications, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

To date, the state has received approximately 250,000 H1N1 doses. It’s estimated a total of 2 million doses are needed in Colorado for all individuals in the priority groups to receive their vaccination.

“We are pleased that the supply of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine continues to increase,” said the state’s Chief Medical Officer Ned Calonge. “We are asking citizens to listen carefully to the messages they get from their county health departments regarding vaccine availability. All of these agencies are doing their best to deliver vaccine to the highest-risk individuals first, but they can only do this with the cooperation of citizens.”

For a list of county health department Web sites or flu clinic locations, go to http://www.colorado.gov/nofluforyou. In Jefferson County, visit: http://bit.ly/clinics for a complete listing of upcoming clinics.

Individuals with questions about H1N1 also may call CO HELP, Colorado’s flu hotline, at 1-877-462-2911. The hotline has been established to respond to questions about H1N1 and seasonal influenza. Operators can provide callers with flu clinic locations as well.

While some Colorado counties are finished vaccinating their health-care workers who have direct patient contact and are ready to move on to the other high-priority groups, other counties still have to concentrate only on the health-care worker population, according to Calonge.

The following list of individuals is CDC’s official priority group list. After health-care workers with direct patient contact receive vaccinations, other individuals in the priority 2009 H1N1 groups include:

• pregnant women
• household contacts and caretakers of children under 6 months of age
• all children between 6 months and 24 years of age
• all health-care workers
• adults 25 years to 64 years of age with underlying risk conditions

As an example of areas of the state that are making progress in terms of vaccine distribution, Calonge said the Grand Junction area has been able to vaccinate some health-care workers with direct patient contact and will gradually include other priority groups as vaccine allows. On the other end of the equation, several health departments in the Denver metropolitan area and other parts of the state need additional vaccine doses before they can move beyond vaccinating health-care workers with direct patient contact. “The state health department supports local health officials’ decisions in vaccinating priority groups in the way that is most appropriate for their community based on vaccine type and quantity,” Calonge said.

Calonge thanked Colorado citizens for their patience, stating, “We know this is a challenging and frustrating time for everyone involved. However, we’ve been very impressed with the understanding we’ve seen from people who are anxiously awaiting their H1N1 vaccination.” As director Rick Ritter of Otero County Health Department shared, “I recently addressed a waiting crowd at our flu clinic in Ordway to explain why high risk individuals needed the vaccine sooner. Afterward, a man who was in front of the line said, ‘I understand. They need it more than I do. I can wait.’ This sentiment characterized most people that could not get their vaccination that day. I truly appreciate their patient and understanding attitude.”

Calonge urged individuals to do what they can to stop the spread of this disease while they continue to wait. This includes staying home when they’re sick, coughing into their sleeve or a tissue and washing their hands frequently.”

In Jefferson County, vaccine has been distributed as it arrives to pediatric healthcare providers and others who registered to administer vaccine. If you are unable to access vaccine through your provider please attend one of the Jefferson County School Located Clinics.