Members of priority groups to receive H1N1 vaccines from Department of Health

The Department of Health reminded Pennsylvanians they can begin making appointments today to be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus.

Limited doses of H1N1 vaccine will be offered at Pennsylvania's 60 state health centers for members of priority groups who do not have access to the vaccine through their health care provider or who do not have a provider. The vaccinations will be offered Dec. 1, 2 and 3.

Individuals must schedule an appointment. Appointments can be made, 24 hours a day, at www.H1N1inPA.com under "What's Hot." Those without Internet access can call 1-877-PA HEALTH (1-877-724-3258), Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.; and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone lines are limited.

The department asks that only individuals in the following priority groups schedule appointments:

• individuals between the ages of six months and 24 years;
• household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six months;
• pregnant women;
• healthcare providers and emergency medical services personnel; and
• those under 65 years of age with underlying health conditions, including asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, and neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders.

Vaccine supply continues to be limited. It is important to note the majority of vaccine available at the state health centers will be live attenuated influenza vaccine, or LAIV, which is an intranasal mist. This vaccine is licensed and recommended for healthy persons between 2-49 years of age.

LAIV is not recommended for several of the groups at highest priority for vaccination, including pregnant women, children under two years of age, those with certain underlying health conditions and healthcare providers who care for persons with significant impairments in their immune system. For this reason, the department asks healthy individuals between 2-49 years of age to consider LAIV. This will help ensure that more individuals in the recommended target groups have access to vaccine.

In addition to making the vaccine available to priority groups at the state health centers, the department will continue to provide vaccine to county and municipal health departments and certified providers. Certified providers include: pediatricians, family health practitioners, obstetricians, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities that agreed to target the groups of people considered most vulnerable to complications from the H1N1 virus.