ODH orders additional H1N1 flu vaccine

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WDTN) - The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) submitted an order for 389,500 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Friday afternoon. The vaccine will be shipped directly to 298 local health departments and hospitals in 88 Ohio counties.

The order includes 60,800 doses of nasal-spray vaccine and 328,700 shots of H1N1 flu vaccine.

The vaccine is intended for high-risk individuals including health care workers and EMS workers who provide direct patient care; pregnant women; people who live with or care for children less than 6 months; all people 6 months to 24 years; and people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions.

Local health department and hospitals may choose to vaccinate some subset of the above group depending on vaccine supply and the demographic makeup of the patients they serve.

The vaccine orders should begin arriving at local health departments and hospitals Nov. 3, according to CDC.

ODH has previously ordered 595,200 doses of H1N1 vaccine, bringing Ohio’s total to 984,700 doses thus far. This represents Ohio’s total allotment of H1N1 influenza vaccine. More vaccine is expected to be available in the coming weeks.