GREAT BAY– The Preventive Health Department (PHD) has received 8000 H1N1 vaccines from Holland and the first persons to receive the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine will be high risk groups.
Vaccinations for these persons are available as of Monday, November 23.
Persons who fall under the identified risk groups are asked to visit their family physicians at the following clinics as of Monday, November 23 to Friday, November 27: Dr. Mercuur Clinic (12.00pm to 1.00pm), Bush Road Clinic (12.00pm to 2.00pm) and Dr. Deketh Clinic (2.00pm to 3.00pm). These persons are those who fall under the high risk group and who are clients of the aforementioned clinics. Other family physicians will be added to the list and this information will be announced once it has been compiled.
The Dutch Health Council and the Royal Institute for Public Health & the Environment has recommended that persons receive two A (H1N1) vaccinations. Approximately 4000 persons can be vaccinated with this first batch that has been received.
According to guidelines from the Netherlands Antilles Influenza A (H1N1) Protocol, all pregnant women who are in the last six months of pregnancy or second trimester – from their fourth month onwards – will be vaccinated.
Other persons who form part of the risk group that should get vaccinated are:
• Persons with chronic conditions e.g. with pulmonary disease; with cardiac disease; with diabetes mellitus, even if not on medication; with chronic kidney disease/failure; after a recent bone marrow transplant; with HIV-infection.
• Persons with a diminished resistance to infections: livercirrosis, (functional) asplenia, auto-immune illnesses, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive medication;
• 60 years and older.
Health care workers who may be in contact with patients pertaining to the medical risk groups mentioned above (personnel in nursing homes, senior citizen home, hospital, outpatient clinics and general practitioner/specialist practices) should also get vaccinated.
Home care givers of people with a very high risk for severe illness and mortality due to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) should also be vaccinated.
Side effects of the vaccination are slight fever and some slight swelling around the area where the vaccine is administered. If there are any adverse affects, inform your family physician immediately or the PHD.
Besides vaccination against pandemic in¬flu¬en¬za A (H1N1), vaccination against seasonal flu remains important.
For persons who do not fall within the identified risk groups, you are advised to continue with implementing preventive measures (maintain high standards of hygiene), staying healthy and keeping a safe distance from persons with a flu-like illness.