BestCare News
The Latest Information on Seasonal and H1N1 Influenza
With the help of Rudolf Kotula, M.D., Infectious Disease(ID) Specialist with Methodist Physicians Clinic, we have assembled information, tips and tools about the outbreak and ways to keep your family healthy.
Douglas County Public Vaccination Clinics
NEW Douglas County Health Department Public Vaccination Clinics
The Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) has announced its free public H1N1 and school-based vaccination clinics. Doses will be given to those persons in the CDC-identified groups below.
- Pregnant women
- Children 6 months through 24 years of age
- Anyone who cares for an infant under 6 months
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel
- Anyone 25 through 64 years of age with a chronic health condition which puts them at
- higher risk for severe complications
Additional locations and times will be announced by Douglas County Health Department as they are available.
Douglas County Public Clinic Information and Flu Vaccination Forms
The Latest News on the H1N1 vaccine
Initial doses of the vaccine are currently in very limited supply. As we receive doses, we will alert you to the availability. Patients need to schedule an appointment with their provider. No vaccinations will be given without an appointment.
If you would like to schedule H1N1 or seasonal vaccinations, please contact your clinic for an appointment.- Four H1N1 vaccines are licensed in the U.S. There should be no shortage of vaccine.
- The vaccine should be available during November.
- The 1976 swine flu virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus tend to be genetically different. Persons vaccinated in 1976 will most likely not be protected and should be vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
How is the vaccine to be administered?
- The FDA has approved one dose only for individuals over the age of 10.
- Ages 6 months to 9 years should receive 2 doses approximately one month apart.
- Inactivated 2009 vaccine H1N1 can be administered with the seasonal flu vaccine on the same day.
- The live intranasal 2009 H1N1 should not be administered together with the seasonal live attenuated vaccine.
- The ability to mount an antibody response with the seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine should be comparable.
For Parents
Dr. Kotula answers questions parents have about caring for a sick child and keeping their family healthy during the flu season.
Dr. Kotula discusses a parent's questions about symptoms and the H1N1 outbreak.
Infectious Disease Services at Methodist Physicians Clinic
