Flu Facts: Children under 10 need 2 vaccines

Editor's Note: This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages throughout the flu season. Readers interested in knowing more about this topic are urged to visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or www.flu.gov.

Q: Is it true that kids need two vaccines?

A: It's true for children under the age of 10. For this group, the CDC recommends two doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine separated by four weeks. However, if the second dose is separated from the first dose by at least 21 days, the second dose can be considered valid. The CDC also recommends two doses of seasonal influenza vaccination for children younger than 9 who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.

Carson City students under the age of 10 who receive the H1N1 vaccine at school or day care will get their second dose at school or day care as well. Health Department vaccine teams will return to perform a follow-up clinic after the recommended amount of time has lapsed.

Local vaccine update

Local health department officials anticipate that the supply of H1N1 vaccine will improve over the coming weeks. At this time, vaccine is offered to people who fall into a high priority group: pregnant women; health care providers; people aged 6 months to 24 years; people aged 25 to 64 who have health conditions associated with higher risk of complications; people who live with or care for children under the age of 6 months.

Scheduled clinics:

WHERE: Carson City Health and Human Services, 900 East Long Street

WHEN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays and 8:30-11:30 a.m.; 1 -4:30 p.m. Thursdays.

WHO: Open to the public high priority group only

For Youth Only:

• Sunshine and Rainbows Day Care: Nov. 4, 2009

• Kids Kind of Place Day Care: Nov. 5

• Rochelle's Place Day Care: Nov. 5

• Saint Teresa of Avila School: Nov. 6, 2009

• Lyon County Elementary Schools: Nov. 10 and 12

• Douglas County Elementary Schools: Nov. 16 and 18

• Carson Middle School: Nov. 17

• Eagle Valley Middle School: Nov. 17

• Carson High School: Nov. 23 and 24 (tentative)

• WNC Day Care and Students: Nov. 24

Some physicians and health care providers in the community have received supplies of the vaccine. People who fall into the priority groups can contact their health care provider to see if the vaccine is available.

• Pam Graber is the public information officer for Carson City Health and Human Services.