The Reading Hospital to Offer Nasal Mist Vaccine at Two Locations

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Reading Hospital and Medical Center will begin its public influenza vaccine campaign with two events. The first event will be held on Saturday, November 21, from 8 a.m. – noon in the lobby of The Reading Hospital Conference Center (5th Avenue entrance). The second event will take place on Sunday, November 22, from noon – 3 p.m., at the Reading Health Dispensary, 838 Penn Street, Reading. Appointments are required, and can be made by calling 610-988-HELP (4357) during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. There is a limited amount of vaccine available for both days.

The influenza vaccine that will be available is the live, attenuated, H1N1 nasal mist vaccine.

Potential recipients will be asked to sign a consent form and complete a state-required information sheet. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult relative.

You should not get the H1N1 nasal mist vaccine if you have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs, or to any other substance in the vaccine. Tell the person giving you the vaccine if you have any severe allergies.

The live vaccine should not be given to the following groups.

• children younger than 2 and adults 50 years and older
• pregnant women,
• anyone with a weakened immune system,
• anyone with a long-term health problem such as
o asthma
o lung disease
o kidney or liver disease
o metabolic disease such as diabetes
o heart disease
o anemia and other blood disorders
• children younger than 5 years with asthma or one or more episodes of wheezing during the last 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.

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,
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (a severe paralytic illness also
called GBS).

These may not be reasons to avoid the vaccine, but the medical staff can help you decide.

For more information about the H1N1 vaccine, please review the attached Vaccine Information Statement, or visit www.readinghospital.org/flu.