Swine flu vaccines available

Swine flu vaccinations have arrived in Del Norte County and are being administered to people in high-risk categories.

That includes caregivers for babies 6 months and younger, pregnant women, and health-care providers, said Del Norte County Emergency Services Manager Cindy Henderson.

“We can’t vaccinate children 6 months or younger so it’s very important that caregivers get vaccinated,” Henderson said. “All pregnant women should be vaccinated as well.”

This poses a problem, however, because the version of the vaccine intended for pregnant women isn’t going to be here until Dec. 1.

According to Henderson and health care professionals, however, there is not a single scientific study that actually documents the link between vaccinations and autism.

But because of public worry over the possibility, the Centers for Disease Control started requiring vaccinations for pregnant women and children under 3 to be preservative-free in 2004.

That has changed for the swine flu season.

“The Center for Disease Control has released a waiver to all OBGYN’s because they think that the risk of the vaccine is far less than the risk of swine flu,” Henderson said.

Most doctors in town will be giving the currently available vaccine to their pregnant patients if requested, she said.

 According to Henderson the vaccine itself is free, thanks to the federal government, but health-care practitioners will be charging an administrative fee.

“If a health-care provider is not offering the shot, anyone in the high-risk category should call the Del Norte County Health Department to find out when they will next be given,” Henderson said.

The Heath Department’s number is (707) 464-3191.