Created on Wednesday, 14 October 2009 13:06
Contact: Collette DuValle, 317-373-2391
Health Department Receives More H1N1 Vaccine
The Marion County Health Department received two orders of H1N1 vaccine Tuesday afternoon bringing the total doses received to 9,800 of the injectible and 4,000 doses of the flu mist.
Tuesday marked the initial shipment of injectible H1N1 vaccine to Marion County.
“We were expecting our regular weekly shipment of vaccine and were pleasantly surprised to find we received two orders in the same day. We are glad to have the additional doses,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D., director, Marion County Health Department.
Local health officials will meet to decide how to distribute the greater than anticipated supply of vaccine.
During the last two weeks the Marion County Health Department has received more than 19,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine. While this might appear to be a large amount, local health officials say the vaccine is not arriving in the quantities needed to conduct large vaccination clinics for a community of more than 800,000 residents.
Initial H1N1 vaccine has been distributed among Indianapolis hospitals with the guidance emergency room and critical care staff should be vaccinated.
“I am anticipating the arrival of large shipments of H1N1 vaccine within the next two weeks,” said Dr. Caine.
The county could receive up to 130,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine by the end of the month.
