By CARRIE STAMBAUGH
Ashland — FIVCO health officials say local agencies did receive recalled nasal spray H1N1 vaccines but most doses were given out immediately, are safe and recipients should be fully protected.
Drugmaker MedImmune recalled 5 million doses of swine flu nasal spray because tests of the vaccine indicate they have lost strength over time.
FIVCO Regional epidemiologist Kristy Bolen said Wednesday that all the health departments in the FIVCO region had received shipments of the vaccines. The shipments were some of the initial allotments received in October, she said, and were immediately distributed to health care workers, first responders and local health practitioners to administer to patients.
“I talked to all the health departments and none of them had any (doses) left,” Bolen said, “I really feel like they were fine then — that stuff is long gone. It is only slightly below what it should be now so people should still get an effective response from it so they do not need to get a second dose.”
Food and Drug Administration officials said the vaccine met potency specifications when it was distributed in October and November. They also said Tuesday the vaccine is safe and patients who received it should be protected from the virus.
The FDA says the vast majority of the doses distributed nationwide have been used.
Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital also received doses of the recalled vaccine, according to spokesman Kevin Compton. He said the hospital had some of the recalled doses left and would be shipping them back to the manufacturer.
Bolen said new doses of H1N1 vaccines are continuing to arrive and are being distributed to local doctors and now pharmacies. She said the availability of doses is beginning to meet demands.
Health officials say they expect a second wave of illness to strike early next year and will coincide with the traditional peak in seasonal influenza.
Seasonal vaccines are also now available. Individuals should contact the health department to make an appointment, according to Bolen. “We don’t anticipate being able to hold a mass clinic but can do appointments,” she said.
The Ashland-Boyd County Health Department can be reached at (606) 329-9444. The agency will be closed Thursday and Friday for Christmas and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 in observance of the New Year.
CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
