BLUE ISLAND | Family practice physicians and infectious disease experts at MetroSouth Medical Center are urging residents in the south suburbs to get immunized for H1N1 flu. In response, the center has secured 4,000 doses of the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine, more than most hospitals in the Chicago area, and is offering the vaccine at five locations. Clinic locations include:
* South Holland 401 East 162nd St., Suite 207 (708) 210-2001
* Morgan Park 1701 W. Monterey (111th and Vincennes), Chicago (773) 298-9800
* Orland Park 10745 W. 165th (708) 364-5700
* Blue Island 2310 York St. No. 2A & No. 5A (Doctors Pavilion), (708) 489-7800
* Alsip 12246 S. Pulaski Road (708) 385-5601 (contacts: Dr. Miranda Huffman and Dr. Brian McCollough)
Nasal vaccinations are available by appointment only, and the administration fee is $15. To make appointments, call the desired MetroSouth clinic location. For additional information, visit www.metrosouthmedicalcenter.com.
"We have been seeing a significant number of patients with flu this fall," says Dr. Kimberly Gray-White, MetroSouth family practice physician serving the Morgan Park and surrounding communities. "We recommend that everyone take simple precautions including vigilant hand washing and sneezing into the arm or elbow. We are urging everyone to get the vaccine while supplies last."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, children 2 years through 9 years of age should get two doses of the vaccine, about a month apart. Older children and adults need only one dose.
H1N1 nasal vaccines should be given to the following groups of healthy people who are:
* 2 to 24 years of age
* 25 to 49 years of age and live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
* health care or emergency medical personnel
H1N1 nasal vaccines should not be given to the following groups:
* Those who have a severe allergy to eggs, or any other substance in the vaccine
* Children younger than 2 and adults 50 years and older
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women (they can get the H1N1 inactive virus administered through an injection)
* Anyone with a weakened immune system
* Anyone with a long-term health problem such as heart disease, kidney or liver disease, lung disease, metabolic disease such as diabetes, asthma and anemia and other blood disorders
* Children younger than 5 with asthma or one or more episodes of wheezing during the past year
* Anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders (such as cerebral palsy) that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems
* Anyone in close contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system (requiring care in a protected environment, such as a bone marrow transplant unit)
* Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment
Common symptoms of H1N1 include fatigue, fever (sometimes), sore throat, muscle aches, chills, coughing, sneezing and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting.
People with flu-like symptoms should stay home and avoid contact with other people, unless they need to get medical care.
Some people, including pregnant women, are more likely to get flu complications and should see their doctors if they get flu symptoms this season.
Those individuals are:
* Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
* People 65 and older
* Pregnant women
* People who have cancer, blood disorders (including sickle cell disease), chronic lung disease including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord), neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis) and weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS)
Even children who have always been healthy before or have had the flu before can get a severe case. Call or take your child to the doctor right away if your child of any age has:
* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish or gray skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Severe of persistent vomiting
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes or asthma) and develops flu-like symptoms, including a fever and/or cough
If you are moderately or severely ill, you might be advised to wait until you recover before getting the vaccine. If you have a mild cold or other illness, there is usually no need to wait.
Tell your doctor if you ever had:
* A life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of seasonal flu vaccine or
* Guillain-Barré syndrome (a severe paralytic illness also called GBS)
Frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of airborne illnesses such as H1N1.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are an acceptable substitute to hand washing.
Cover your mouth by sneezing or coughing into your elbow or upper arm. Do not cough or sneeze into your hands, as this easily spreads germs. Doorknobs, telephones, counter tops and other frequently touched surfaces should be disinfected regularly to prevent spread of disease.
