Health Officer Warns of Risks of Receiving H1N1 Vaccine Outside of Targeted Population

Health Officer Megan Avallone is offering a stark warning to residents who are not in the targeted population for the H1N1 vaccine who choose to receive it during next Tuesday's vaccination clinic: receive it and someone in the targeted population could die.

With a shortage of H1N1 vaccine produced, the federal government has set strict target populations for who should receive the vaccine first. While the federal government is promising to produce enough vaccine for those who want it, that could be a few months off, leaving the target population the most at risk. Currently the federal government said the vaccine should go to pregnant women, all individuals between the ages of six months and 24 years, those between 25 years old and 64 years old with chronic health conditions, caregivers of children under the age of six months and licensed health care workers with direct patient contact.

The problem is there is no way for Westfield health officials to check the background of everyone asking for a flu shot during Tuesday's clinic at the high school or the Nov. 16 clinic at Summit High School. While some members of the non-targeted population are easy to spot, those without chronic health conditions in the large age range are not.

Avallone and her staff will be unable to police the problem and are not requiring doctors' notes for those in that age range to receive the vaccine. Some chronic health conditions mentioned included asthma and diabetes. She said an honor system is being used and she is trying to warn residents of the consequences of taking a vaccine dose from someone who may need it.

"If they lie it will take a vaccine from someone who could die if they don't get it," Avallone said. "If a five year old gets H1N1 without the vaccine, they could get really sick."

Avallone said the guidelines were developed based on who would be most at risk of fatality if they contracted H1N1. Most surprising to many for not being on the list are senior citizens. Avallone said federal health officials have explained that a similar flu that occurred in the 1940s has already provided immunity to those in the senior population.

Avallone said the senior citizens in Westfield and the other seven towns in the regional health department are not happy with being told by the federal government that they cannot receive the vaccine.

"My phone rings off the hook," she said. "People are panicked."

Avallone said she is expecting to receive more vaccine soon and advises residents that she plans to schedule more clinics as the vaccine becomes available. It is likely the vaccination clinics will run into the beginning of next year.

She said that while many residents are frustrated by the slow pace in getting the clinics up and running, she is in the same boat. She said the federal government slowdowns in getting the vaccine out and the bureaucratic issues surrounding federal monies to pay for the clinics have been causing stress in her department.

"I'm ready to pull my hair out or jump out a window, it does not make any sense," Avallone said at a joint meeting of the regional department's boards of health this past Monday.