Polk County this week received its initial shipment of H1N1 (swine flu) nasal spray vaccine.

The following press release was emailed to area media outlets late Tuesday:

County health departments in the 10-county Northwest Georgia Public Health district have received a total of 35,00 doses of H1N1 nasal spray vaccine, according to district Health Director Dr. Wade Sellers.

The Polk County Health Department has received 300 doses of the vaccine and will offer it on a walk-in basis, while supply lasts, to healthy children aged 2 to 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 pp.m., Thursday, Oct. 8.

For more information, contact the Polk County Health Department at 770-749-2270.

“We wish we’d received more nitially," Sellers said, “but vaccine quantities are limited in this first shipment and are in the form of a nasal spray vaccine known as LAIV or live attenuated influenza vaccine.

"We’re asking the public to be patient as the vaccine begins to trickle through the distribution pipeline down to the county level.

"We expect to begin receiving the inactivated injectable form of the vaccine later in October, and eventually, there will be plenty of H1N1 vaccine, enough for everyone who wants it to receive it.”

Georgia is focusing the use of this small, initial H1N1 vaccine supply on healthy children age 2 to 4 years in order to reach a population that spreads the virus and is more at risk for hospitalization.

The nasal spray version of the H1N1 vaccine can be used by healthy people age 2 years to 49 years.

The nasal spray vaccine should NOT be given to the following:

· Children who are receiving treatments containing aspirin;

· Children with a sensitivity to eggs, egg proteins, gentamicin, gelatin, or arginine or have had life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations;

· Children that are younger than 2 years old ;

· Children with asthma or children less than 4 years old with recurrent wheezing;

· Children with health problems that predispose them to complications from flu;

· Children that have a muscle, nerve, or seizure disorder that could lead to breathing or swallowing problems;

· Children that have a weakened immune system;

H1N1 vaccine is being provided free of charge by the federal government at local county health departments, although administration fees may be charged to Medicaid or Medicare. Private providers will also be offering H1N1 vaccinations as additional doses become available.

The 2009 H1N1 vaccine will not protect you from the seasonal flu, and all Georgians should consider getting a seasonal flu vaccination this year.