FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2009; 1:30 p.m.
PHICC Release No. 09-046
 
DPHSS Receives H1N1 Influenza Vaccine
Delivery Begins to Target Groups 

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) continues to receive small quantities of the H1N1 influenza vaccine.  Vaccination efforts are targeted with the initial vaccines based on recommendations from the Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Planning committee (VAPPC) and guidance received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. CDC reports that the manufacturer is further behind schedule than previously anticipated.
 
The target groups being addressed locally currently include:
 
Health-care and emergency medical services personnel
Pregnant women
 
Locally and in accordance with CDC guidelines, the VAPPC also identified a series of subsets within the target groups who will begin to receive the H1N1 influenza vaccine as it becomes available:
 
Children age 6 months to 4 years of age
Children age 5 to 18 years of age (with high risk medical conditions)
Healthy children age 2 to 4 years of age (for Nasal Mist vaccine)
Licensed daycare providers caring for infants age 6 months and younger
 
Once individuals in these target groups and subsets have been vaccinated, efforts to vaccinate the other target groups based on vaccine availability will be initiated. When the vaccine has been distributed to all target groups, the DPHSS will commence vaccinating the general public through a series of Points of Distribution (PODs).  The PODs will take place throughout the island to ensure all residents are afforded the opportunity for vaccination against the H1N1 Influenza.
 
The PODs were originally scheduled to begin the first week of November, but due to current vaccine availability, the focus will be on the priority groups. The PODs conducted by the DPHSS are planned to commence following vaccination of the target groups in early December.
 
The DPHSS would like to stress that eventually there will be enough of the vaccine for everyone wishing to take advantage of protecting themselves from the risks of contracting H1N1. 
 
For more information, please visit the following website at ww.flu.gov; the Department of Public Health and Social Services at www.dphss.guam.gov; or Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense website at www.guamhs.org. You may also call the Information Line at 735-H1N1 (4161).
 
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