H1N1 flu vaccine arriving in RI next week

PROVIDENCE—A limited quantity of the H1N1 flu mist vaccine is making its way to Rhode Island.

State officials said about 6,200 doses will be available next week.

Dr. David Gifford, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, said children between the ages of 2 and 5 will be given first priority. He said because they are under the age of 9, they will require two doses a month a part. Anyone over the age of 9 will only require one dose.

Pregnant women and children with respiratory problems aren’t eligible for the flu spray.

Gifford said people shouldn’t call their pediatricians looking for the flu spray; the doctors will be calling them.

“We’re asking the pediatricians to contact those kids that are at the highest risk who should get the vaccine,“ he said.

Some parents are concerned about the flu spray because it contains a live version of the virus. Gifford said they shouldn’t be.

“You still can’t get the flu from it, but what you do is your body creates an immune response and gets antibodies. So, if you get exposed to the real H1N1 virus, your body fights it off,“ he said.

Health officials were hoping for an injectable form of the vaccine, but that’s not going to be available until the end of October.

School children between the ages of 5 and 24 and pregnant women will be the given the injection first. Health care workers and people who have asthma, diabetes and other chronic diseases will also be given priority.

Since Sept. 1, of the 30 influenza tests that have turned up positive at the health department, 25 of them have been confirmed H1N1 cases.

Two people have been hospitalized with the flu and have or are recovering.