San Luis Valley – As availability of H1N1 vaccine grows through weekly shipments, Valley health care providers will soon be giving a second round of doses to children in certain age groups.

Beverly Strnad of Alamosa County Public Health explains, “In order to get adequate immunity, children 6 months to 9 years should receive two doses of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine."

Parents should wait approximately 1 month after the first H1N1 vaccine, before bringing their children in this age group in for their second dose.

The current priorities to receive the vaccine include all children ages 6 months through 24 years, 25-64 year olds with certain underlying health problems and household members of infants up to 6 months old.

Also included in the priority group are health care workers and pregnant women.

As a reminder, the local public health agencies in the valley recommend to continue to watch the local newspapers and listen to local radio stations for the latest information on upcoming vaccination clinics.

You may also call the COHelp line at 1-877-462-2911 or call your local Public Health Agency:

Alamosa County Public Health Agency 589-6639

Conejos County Nursing Service and Public Health Agency: 274-4307

Costilla County Public Health Agency: 672-3332

Mineral County Public Health Agency: 658-2416

Rio Grande County Public Health Agency: 657-3352

Saguache County Public Health Agency: 655-2533



For the complete article see the 11-26-2009 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 11-26-2009 paper.