Cowley County will receive an initial shipment of about 200 doses of H1N1 vaccine that is likely to be administered to direct-care healthcare workers, City-Cowley County Healthcare director David Brazil said Monday.
The first shipment will be the live-attenuated nasal spray variety. A non-active vaccine ? given through a traditional injection ? should arrive in the next two to three weeks.
The state’s first shipment of the vaccine is 16,000 doses.
Brazil said that because the first shipment is very small, the vaccine will go to those that are working with the sick. The live-attenuated vaccine cannot be used by pregnant women, who are considered at high risk for Swine Flu complications.
The health department plans to release additional information about the vaccine when the first shipment arrives, which should be later this week.
Brazil said the health department is monitoring illness at area schools now that cold and flu season is arriving.
Thus far, local schools have maintained an absenteeism rate below 10 percent. Schools are required to report to the state anytime the absentee rate tops 10 percent.
