The state has been delayed in shipping H1N1 flu vaccine, sanitarian Ira Grossman of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health told the Board of Health at its Sept. 22 meeting, noting that the clinic dates previously released will have to be changed. The “most realistic” delivery date, he said, is the second week in October.
New this year is a regulation that requires the posting of H1N1 clinics, Grossman added. And the most recent news, he said, is that children age 10 and older and adults will only need one dose. Those younger will require two doses.
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for the week ending Sept. 19, show that Region 1, to which Massachusetts belongs, was then categorized with a “normal” number of outpatient visits. This contrasts with the other nine regions, which all have an “elevated” number. Of our region’s outpatient visits for that week, only 4.2 percent tested positive for the H1N1 flu—the second-lowest region in the nation. The site does indicate that swine flu activity is increasing.
For more information visit Mass. Department of Public Health’s website at www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu or the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
