FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky has been allocated 177,400 doses of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine so far, with more than 138,000 doses of that having shipped to health departments and health care providers in the state, state public health officials report.
"Kentucky continues to experience widespread flu activity at the moment. I'd like to remind everyone that your mother's advice—washing your hands, covering your cough and staying home when sick—is very effective at preventing the spread of flu," said Dr. William Hacker, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, in a release issued by his department.
"The flu vaccine is also one of the most effective tools we have against influenza, and while there are a few clinics already taking place in the state, we hope to begin immunizing more Kentuckians in the weeks ahead. We ask that people find out if they or their family members are in a target group for the H1N1 vaccine, and that we all let those higher-risk individuals get vaccinated first," Hacker said.
The state's allotment of vaccine so far has been about half nasal spray vaccine, which can only be taken by healthy individuals ages 2-49, with the rest in the form of the H1N1 flu shot vaccine.
The target groups that health officials are recommending receive vaccine first are:
- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old
- Health care and emergency medical services workers
- Children and young adults 6 months to 24 years old, especially those with chronic health problems
- People 25 to 64 years old with chronic health problems.
People over the age of 65 appear to be at lower risk of catching the swine flu, and should receive the vaccine once those in the target groups have received it.
For MoreKentuckians can always visit
http://healthalerts.ky.gov for information on H1N1 and Kentucky, including updated information about H1N1 vaccine clinics, or follow KYHealthAlerts on Twitter. Kentucky's toll-free influenza hotline number is 1 (877) 843-7727, and operates from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
