In addition to the H1N1 vaccine being open to all individuals starting Monday, Dec. 14, the Ohio Department of Health also is opening distribution of anti-viral drugs to help people who come down with the flu recover.
The department announced Wednesday, Dec. 9, a public-private partnership with four retail pharmacies to ensure the availability of antiviral medications.
Giant Eagle, Kroger, Meijer and Walgreens pharmacies will be the recipients of medications from the state's supply. The drugs will be administered to the pharmacies as needed if shortages arise. The chain stores then will send the medications to stores with low supplies.
"We're really grateful that these four retailers have stepped us to help us make sure that Ohioans who need antivirals for H1N1 and influenza have antivirals available for them," said Kristopher Weiss, spokesman for the department of health.
Almost 1.5 million courses of prescription antivirals are available through the state and others are available from federal outlets if necessary. Weiss said the majority of the doses are TamiFlu, with a few Relenza also in stock.
"Your doctor would prescribe them to you if you were very sick," Weiss said. "If you're a high-risk individual with a chronic illness ... you should call your doctor right away and talk about if antiviral medication might be good for you."
The antivirals reduce the length of the illness and the severity, Weiss said.
The retailers will pay for the drugs to be shipped to them; however, the pharmacies cannot charge the patient more than $3.75 for the drug, Weiss said.
"These are government assets that aren't being sold," he said.
Weiss said the department has yet to ship any supplies out and isn't sure if shortages will come about.
"There have been some spotty shortages reported around the country," Weiss said. "This was a step we wanted to take proactively in the event we experience a similar thing here in Ohio."
The Ohio Department of Health also was the authority that named Dec. 14 as the date for vaccines to be open to all people statewide.
With clinics open to all people, "That means every vaccine provider in Central Ohio that has a vaccine should make it available to all of our residents," said Jose Rodriguez, communications director for Columbus Public Health.
Columbus Public Health will continue to offer walk-in H1N1 vaccine clinics, but many other providers, such as doctors and pharmacies, will have vaccines as well.
"We encourage folks to get it wherever it is most comfortable for them," Rodriguez said. He recommended people check with their private health care providers before turning to other clinics.
"This is a great time to get vaccinated -- right before the holidays, right before people" start gathering together, he said. "This is not the time to let our guard down."
Rodriguez recommended college students who will return home for the holidays get their vaccine while at home.
"If you didn't get it done at school, this is a great time to get it done," he said.
"Parents of children under the age of 9 that got (their child) a first shot need to go back," Rodriguez said. "A child is not fully immunized until he or she gets the second dose."
Rodriguez said it does not matter where a parent takes a child for the second dose. The child does not have to return to the same vaccine provider that gave the first shot.
The department announced Wednesday, Dec. 9, a public-private partnership with four retail pharmacies to ensure the availability of antiviral medications.
Giant Eagle, Kroger, Meijer and Walgreens pharmacies will be the recipients of medications from the state's supply. The drugs will be administered to the pharmacies as needed if shortages arise. The chain stores then will send the medications to stores with low supplies.
"We're really grateful that these four retailers have stepped us to help us make sure that Ohioans who need antivirals for H1N1 and influenza have antivirals available for them," said Kristopher Weiss, spokesman for the department of health.
Almost 1.5 million courses of prescription antivirals are available through the state and others are available from federal outlets if necessary. Weiss said the majority of the doses are TamiFlu, with a few Relenza also in stock.
"Your doctor would prescribe them to you if you were very sick," Weiss said. "If you're a high-risk individual with a chronic illness ... you should call your doctor right away and talk about if antiviral medication might be good for you."
The antivirals reduce the length of the illness and the severity, Weiss said.
The retailers will pay for the drugs to be shipped to them; however, the pharmacies cannot charge the patient more than $3.75 for the drug, Weiss said.
"These are government assets that aren't being sold," he said.
Weiss said the department has yet to ship any supplies out and isn't sure if shortages will come about.
"There have been some spotty shortages reported around the country," Weiss said. "This was a step we wanted to take proactively in the event we experience a similar thing here in Ohio."
The Ohio Department of Health also was the authority that named Dec. 14 as the date for vaccines to be open to all people statewide.
With clinics open to all people, "That means every vaccine provider in Central Ohio that has a vaccine should make it available to all of our residents," said Jose Rodriguez, communications director for Columbus Public Health.
Columbus Public Health will continue to offer walk-in H1N1 vaccine clinics, but many other providers, such as doctors and pharmacies, will have vaccines as well.
"We encourage folks to get it wherever it is most comfortable for them," Rodriguez said. He recommended people check with their private health care providers before turning to other clinics.
"This is a great time to get vaccinated -- right before the holidays, right before people" start gathering together, he said. "This is not the time to let our guard down."
Rodriguez recommended college students who will return home for the holidays get their vaccine while at home.
"If you didn't get it done at school, this is a great time to get it done," he said.
"Parents of children under the age of 9 that got (their child) a first shot need to go back," Rodriguez said. "A child is not fully immunized until he or she gets the second dose."
Rodriguez said it does not matter where a parent takes a child for the second dose. The child does not have to return to the same vaccine provider that gave the first shot.
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