Health department gets more flu vaccines

MANATEE — Just one week after receiving its first batch of swine flu vaccine, the health department Tuesday received a second round — this time in the shot form.

The Manatee County Health Department got 300 doses of the injectable H1N1 vaccine, which contains a dead virus and is approved for people 6 months and older, including people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women. Others recommended for the shot are household child caregivers and health-care providers.

The department Oct. 13 received 600 doses of the H1N1 flu mist made with live, weakened viruses of the flu. It’s recommended for healthy people ages 2-49 who are not pregnant.

So far Manatee County has received 4,600 doses of the vaccine, half are flu mist and half are injectable, said Ron Cox, health department director of epidemiology.

Private health providers received a majority of the vaccine.

Cox said he is not sure when the next batch of the vaccine is expected to arrive.

The Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch in Bradenton is the first site to receive the vaccinations in a combined seasonal flu and H1N1 flu planned clinic, according to health department officials.

So far, two women, ages 27 and 37 with underlying medical conditions, have died from swine flu in Manatee County.

County health department staff will only provide vaccines to students at the district’s 53 schools as long as parental consent forms are signed. The forms will be sent out later this month in an information packet that includes an assessment parents can fill out to determine if their child can receive the vaccine.

The packet also will include information sheets that explain the risks and contradictions associated with any immunization.

Once forms are returned to school, parents will be notified when clinics will be scheduled at the child’s school.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ or call the Florida Flu Information Line from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at (877) 352-3581.