The first batch of H1N1 vaccines arrived in Talkeetna’s Sunshine Community Health Center recently and is available for a few targeted populations. The clinic received 20 doses of the vaccine which contains a weakened live virus. Sunshine clinic doctor Mary Loeb explained that this particular vaccine is in the form of a nasal spray. Since it contains the weakened live virus, it is only to be given out to healthy people from 2 to 49 years of age. Pregnant women or persons with existing health problems like heart diseases, kidney diseases or asthma are not eligible. Since there is only a limited amount of the vaccine available, the Sunshine Health Center aims to administer the vaccines first to day care workers who take care of small children, and children between 2 and 4 years of age.

Doctor Loeb said the clinic is expecting more vaccines in the coming weeks, including inactive vaccines, which do not have the live weakened virus. Those will be administered to people with existing health problems.

Troubling to health care providers in the area is that very few children are up to date on their immunizations. In the area served by the Sunshine Health Center, only seven percent of children turning two years old this year are current on their immunizations. Doctor Loeb explained that this could present a public health concern. As the so-called 2009 H1N1 virus weakens the immune system, secondary bacterial infections could worsen the patient’s illness dramatically. If children are not immunized against certain childhood diseases, they are more vulnerable to suffer from complications.

Doctor Loeb said that the 2009 swine flu virus is present in the community and that she had sent out more patients with flu symptoms via helicopter to Anchorage hospitals than in previous years. 

Child care providers and parents of children between 2 and 4 years old can call the clinic at 733-2273 to set up an appointment to receive the H1N1 vaccine.