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Suncoast Pinellas News
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Health Department puts H1N1 vaccinations on temporary hold
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Published: October 24, 2009
TARPON SPRINGS - Saying it is experiencing the same problems obtaining swine flu vaccine as public health agencies around the nation, the Pinellas County Health Department has called a temporary halt to its "general immunization clinics."
For the moment the Health Department is targeting its limited supplies at people who are at the highest risk of contracting the virus. It is "asking the community to be patient."
On Tuesday, the Health Department said it had a limited supply of the nasal version of the vaccine available and the injectable version of the vaccine was only available at its St. Petersburg clinic.
By Thursday, however, Maggie Hall, the Health Department's public information director, was issuing a statement announcing the temporary H1N1 vaccination halt at all of the public health agency's clinics.
"Our initial vaccine shipments were small and we are awaiting more," Dr. Claude Dharamraj, director of the Pinellas County Health Department, is quoted as saying in the Thursday news release.
Health Department officials are encouraged by the desire of many Pinellas residents to protect their health and receive the anti-H1N1 inoculation, Hall said in an interview. Because of the nationwide vaccine supply shortage, the department is forced to temporarily suspend inoculating the general public until it receives more vaccine.
Federal public health officials have told the Health Department an adequate supply of vaccine should become available by mid-November, Hall said.
Until then, the Health Department is reserving the few available doses of the vaccine it has on hand for the most at-risk persons, including pregnant women and children.
The Health Department has said it will make a public announcement when it gets more swine flu vaccine. People seeking updates can call the Pinellas County H1N1 Information Line at 727-824-6964.
Doctors and private clinics may have the vaccine, Hall noted.
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