H1N1 vaccine restrictions lifted

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By Melanie Ruberti - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - At first the H1N1 vaccine was only available to five specific target groups:

Pregnant women
Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
Healthcare and emergency services personnel
All people 6 months to 24 years old
Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Now the vaccine is available to everyone who wants one.

Margaret Owings gets her flu shot every year, on schedule. But the one vaccine she hasn't been a been able to get yet, is H1N1. "I would love to get one," she said.

Margaret is a volunteer at the Community Health Mission clinic, where she comes in contact with sick people on a daily basis.

"I'll be at the front desk, and if they come in, they're coughing and spitting," she said.

But being over 64, she's in one of the last groups to get the vaccine. "disappointed," Margaret explained. "Because I thought, 'Wow. We are older. We should be included in that.'"

She is starting Wednesday. "Already today, we're seeing folks coming in that we've now opened it up to who appreciate the opportunity to be protected against this virus," said Chatham County Health Department medical director Dr. Diane Weems.

Dr. Weems says they received more than 12,000 doses of the vaccine earlier this week. This means everyone can now get the H1N1 shot or mist. She hopes everyone will.

"Even though the incidence of the disease seems to be declining a little bit, we have no way to know that we won't see a resurgence later this winter,or after the first of the year," Dr. Weems explained. "We really do want to protect as many people as we can and the vaccine, thus far, appears to be very effective and safe."

Dr. Weems also said it takes a few weeks to reach full immunity from H1N1, so better to get the shot now before the holidays.

Margaret plans on being first in line to get her vaccine tomorrow. "I'm just happy that it is here," she exclaimed.

You can get your H1N1 shot at the Chatham County Health Department free of charge.

Also, the Department of Health and Environmental Control in South Carolina has lifted the restrictions for H1N1 vaccine in the following four counties: Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton.

The H1N1 flu mist is available to anyone ages 2-49 years old, who are not pregnant or have chronic health problems. The clinics in those four counties would like you to make appointments for children six through 23-months-old, or people 2 to 64 years old with medical conditions.

To contact the DHEC call 843.525.5915.