County Health Department Announces Second Round of Public H1N1 Vaccination Clinics

The Saint Louis County Department of Health will be offering free H1N1 flu vaccinations to county residents at five locations on Saturday, December 5th from 8:30 am. to 4:30 pm. Proof of residency (utility bill or drivers license) may be required.

The five priority groups that will be able to receive the vaccine are: 

• pregnant women;
• youth from 6 months of age through 24 years of age;
• caregivers of and those who live with infants under the age of 6 months;
• adults from 25 years of age through 64 years of age with an underlying health condition that makes them more susceptible to flu complications; and 
• emergency medical service personnel and healthcare workers.
  

A ticket must be presented to receive the vaccine. A drive-through distribution area for a line ticket will be set up at each of the five locations starting at 7 am.

The locations are:

Ferguson-Florissant School District Administration Building
1005 Waterford Drive
Florissant, MO 63033

Kirkwood High School
801 West Essex Avenue
Kirkwood, MO 63122

Parkway-Central High School
369 North Woods Mill Road
Chesterfield, MO 63017

Ritenour High School
9100 Saint Charles Rock Road
Breckenridge Hills, MO 63114

Rockwood-Summit High School
1780 Hawkins Road
Fenton, MO 63126

For more information, please visit the Health Department’s flu website at: www.SaintLouisCountyFlu.com

Background: H1N1 Flu Virus

H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu" early on and also known as Novel H1N1) is a new Type A influenza virus. This virus was first detected in humans in the United States in April, 2009. The virus is spreading worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

Flu viruses spread, mainly from person to person, through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Some people become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. People are considered contagious one day before they develop symptoms and up to seven days after they become ill. 

On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared pandemic status for Novel H1N1. A pandemic is the worldwide outbreak of a disease in humans in numbers clearly in excess of normal. An influenza pandemic can occur when a new influenza virus appears against which the human population has no immunity.

Symptoms: H1N1 Flu Virus

The CDC reports that symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to the seasonal flu and may include:

• Fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue

A few people who have been infected with this virus have reported:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

As with other influenza, those with chronic health problems might find their underlying medical problems worsen with the H1N1 flu.

Although uncommon, severe illnesses and deaths have been associated with this virus.  However, with swift intervention, the vast majority of people can fully recover in a matter of days.

Precautions and Recommendations

We urge all members of the Webster University community to observe the following protocol based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention�s recommendations to minimize the spread of the H1N1 virus:

• Avoid contact with those who are ill.
• When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sneeze or cough into your sleeve and not your hands. Discard used tissues in a trash can.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand gel, especially if you've been coughing and sneezing.
• Cleanliness counts. Be vigilant about keeping your office (desktop surface, telephone, keyboard, arms on chairs, door knobs, copy machine input panels, coffee machines, conference room surfaces, etc.) and home clean by using household products which will kill the germs that spread influenza, including the swine flu.
• The CDC is encouraging all students, faculty and staff to receive the annual/seasonal flu vaccination. As local health care providers set up annual/seasonal flu vaccination clinics we will distribute this information throughout the Webster University campus. (See "Local Seasonal Flu Shot Clinic Information" at right.) The CDC is currently working with drug companies to develop a H1N1 Flu vaccine.  They anticipate the H1N1 Flu vaccine will be  available for public administration in mid to late October 2009.  As soon as the CDC determines its protocol for the distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, we will post their guidelines on our web site. Your personal physician will be a resource to determine if the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 Flu vaccine should be administered to you.
• If you think you have the flu, stay home. Don't go to work, school, or travel while you're ill. Isolate yourself from others.
• If you are severely ill, for instance if you have difficulty breathing, seek medical care. Doctors can prescribe antiviral medications, but note that these medications must be taken within the first 48 hours of becoming sick in order to successfully reduce your flu symptoms.
• All students, faculty and staff on on the Webster Groves campus with Type A or Type B flu or flu-like symptoms are encouraged to contact Health Services (314-246-6922) so the medical staff can monitor the prevalence of flu on campus.
• Those at the extended campuses should contact their campus director to report flu-like symptoms so the director can monitor the prevalence of flu at the location.