Sutter Creek - Amador County Public Health received its second shipment of H1N1 vaccine, according to a release by the department on Tuesday. However, limited quantities mean the vaccine is prioritized for children 2-5 years of age and caregivers 6 months or younger. “This second shipment includes different forms of the vaccine, making it available to a greater range of priority groups,” said the release. Those who will be offered the vaccine first include individual’s age 6 months to 24 years, pregnant women, individuals who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, health care personnel and individuals age 25 – 65 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu related complications. Amador County Public Health Director Angel LeSage said they have yet to schedule any public clinics because the vaccine is coming in “in waves” and is first being distributed among health care providers. “It has to do with production and what is available,” she said. However, they have arranged clinics with Amador County Unified School District “in order to ensure the vaccine is distributed as quickly as possible.” Elementary school clinics are scheduled for October 28, 29 and 30. Informational packets with consent forms will be mailed home to junior high and senior high school parents October 29 with clinics tentatively scheduled for the week of November 9. LeSage encouraged citizens to contact their health care provider to see if they have yet to offer the vaccine. Last Saturday, President Barack Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency, a move intended to give health care facilities more flexibility in dealing with an expected surge of infected patients. This declaration also helps the health secretary cut red tape that complicates treatment of patients on Medicare and Medicaid. Amador County Public Health is also dealing with persistent rumors that the vaccine may do more harm than good. LeSage said that is simply not true. “It’s new in that it is a new virus, not a new vaccine. If H1N1 would have been available at a much sooner stage, it probably would have been rolled in with our usual seasonal flu vaccine,” she said. Until larger quantities of vaccine become available, health officials are promoting more traditional methods of prevention. “The best prevention for both H1N1 and seasonal flu remains vaccination, washing your hands frequently, covering your cough and your sneeze and staying home if you are sick,” said Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. For the latest flu information visit the public health website or call 223-6407. “H1N1 is in our community, but we haven’t had any deaths,” said LeSage. “What we’re trying to do is keep less people from getting it at any one time.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.