Flu Season Information
The Washoe County Health District has been receiving inquiries about both the novel H1N1 flu and seasonal flu, especially with regard to vaccination against both illnesses. So we are providing the following information to help answer questions and address concerns.
Find local clinics offering seasonal flu vaccinations and the insurance plans they accept.
Novel H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinic Information
Seasonal Flu Information
- Seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you against the novel H1N1 flu.
- Annual seasonal flu vaccination is recommended for the following people who are at higher risk of developing complications if they get seasonal flu and their close contacts:
- Children ages six months through 18 years of age
- Household contacts, caregivers and daycare providers of children less than five years of age, especially those who have contact with children less than six months of age
- Pregnant women or women who become pregnant during flu season (fall through spring) and their household contacts
- Persons 50 years of age and older and their household contacts and caregivers
- Persons 19 through 49 years of age with on-going medical conditions or neurological disorders and their household contacts and caregivers
- Healthcare personnel who have hands-on or face-to-face contact with patients
- Anyone who wishes to reduce their chance of getting seasonal flu or transmitting it to others.
- To increase your chances of staying well this winter and reduce the possibility of transmitting seasonal flu to others, plan to get your seasonal flu vaccination as soon as possible. Some providers in Washoe County have received their seasonal flu vaccine shipments and are providing seasonal flu vaccinations already. Log onto www.immunizenevada.org to find a provider of seasonal flu vaccine. Please note: The information on that Web site is in the process of being updated.
Novel H1N1 (Swine) Flu Information
- Novel H1N1 flu vaccine will not protect you against seasonal flu.
- The first shipments of the novel H1N1 flu vaccine are expected to be distributed to each state by about mid-October 2009, with more shipments to follow as the vaccine continues to be manufactured.
- It is the CDC’s goal for every American who wants a novel H1N1 flu shot to be able to get one. However, not all H1N1 vaccine can be made or distributed at the same time. So the first shipments of novel H1N1 flu vaccine that are received will be recommended for certain groups of people based on their likely risk for developing complications if they get the novel H1N1 flu. We will include a list of these priority groups in this weekly update when they have been finalized by the CDC. Please be aware that the priority groups for the novel H1N1 vaccine could be different than those for seasonal flu vaccine.
- More information about when and where to get vaccinated against novel H1N1 flu and the cost of doing so will be included in this weekly update when the information becomes available.
