Health Department issues H1N1 vaccine
Posted at: 10/21/2009 9:30 PM
| Updated at: 10/22/2009 7:29 AM
By: Joe Vigil, Eyewitness News 4; Matthew Kappus, KOB.com
The first round of H1N1 vaccines will go to high risk people
The state health department has begun issuing tens of thousands of doses of H1N1 vaccine to high risk groups in New Mexico.
The state has ordered 78,600 doses of the vaccine. Officials said Wednesday most of that should be in the state.
Pam Biggs from Albuquerque has decided to get vaccinated against H1N1.
"I am concerned about what it's going to mutate to or if it gets worse because they're really not sure," Biggs said.
She is now waiting patiently for a dose of the vaccine.
"I just asked the doctor and she said she didn't know when they were coming in," Biggs said.
Health providers say the 78,000 doses will go rather deep into the high risk population of the state. Providers also expect vaccine to move quickly.
Those with a higher likelihood of developing complications from H1N1 are termed high risk. They include pregnant women, household members and caretakers of infants less than 6 months old, children 6 to 59 months in age and children 5 to 18 with other health complications. Healthcare workers are also at a higher risk.
The Health Department says a total of 1.2 million doses will eventually be ordered. But New Mexico has to wait in line with other states as drug companies work to make the vaccine.
When more vaccine is available, the CDC will call the state. The state will order as much as it can. That amount will then arrive five days later.
But the problem is, the state just doesn't know when the CDC will call and how many doses will be available to order when it does. So the waiting game continues for people like Pam Biggs, who is not considered high risk.
The majority of vaccines ordered Oct. 14 will go to Bernalillo County—about 27,000 doses. San Juan County will get 5,300 doses, Santa Fe County gets 5,000, McKinley County 4,000 and Sandoval County 3,500 doses.
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