Maplewood Health Department - Upcoming H1N1 Vaccination Clinics - November/December 2009

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CLINICS - TO REGISTER, TELEPHONE 973-762-8120, ext - 4400, after the indicated starting date

1. Saturday November 14, 1 - 4pm, Maplewood Town Hall.  This clinic is for children age 5 years and older to young adults age 24, adults age 24 to 64 with long term health problems that the flu can complicate, parents with children less than six months old and health care providers.  Note: The vaccine at this clinic will be the type that contains thimerosal as a preservative. (see below)  

Preregistration is required and is starting immediately by calling the above number. 

1. Sunday November 22, 1 - 4pm, Maplewood Town Hall.  This clinic is for children only ages 6 months to age 18 and pregnant women. Pregnant women must bring a note from your doctor.  Note:  We expect to have the thimerosal free vaccine for this clinic, but we have not yet received this vaccine.

Preregistration is required - do not call to register prior to Nov. 16^th, 9:30 am  

1. Sunday December 6, 1 - 4pm, Maplewood Town Hall.  This clinic is for children age 9 and under who have received the initial H1N1 vaccination at the nasal mist clinic on Nov. 1^st or at the injectable vaccine clinic on Nov. 14^th and are in need of the second dose booster.  This clinic is also open to other children up to age 18 needing vaccination. 

Preregistration is required - do not call to register prior to Nov. 30^th, 9:30 am

Important Note:  Children age nine and under who received the nasal spray vaccine on November 1^st and those who receive the injectable vaccine on Nov. 14^th will be able to receive the second booster dose on Dec. 6^th.

Permission forms and informed consent information are available on the township web site, http://www.maplewoodnj.org/ (scroll down below "Check Out What Is Happening") and also on the school district web sites.  Print out the forms you will need and fill out before arriving at the clinics to save time.

Preregistration permits an orderly flow of patients at the clinics.  If you have not already done so, send a blank email to reminder@twp.maplewood.nj.us and you will be put on the Township email reminder list.  If you received this notice from us via email, you are already on the list.  Please note, adding your name to the email reminder program does not register you for any clinics.  You must call the number above to register.  Changes in flu clinic information will be sent out by email. 

Please note:

The vaccine offered at the Nov. 14^th clinic contains thimerosal as a preservative.  We understand that many parents of young children will not want this vaccine.  The Maplewood Health Department has ordered thimerosal free injectable vaccine, but we have not yet received a supply.

Thus, the Nov. 14^th  clinic is most suitable for children age 5 years and older, teenagers, young adults up to age 24, persons age 25 to 64 with long term health conditions that can be made worse by the flu and health care providers.    

A word about Thimerosal:

Many parents are concerned about the use of thimerosal in the vaccines used for children and adults.   This is because this preservative has mercury as an ingredient and there are concerns that this is a danger to health and possibly a cause of autism.  However, health scientists have not found these concerns to be valid.

The Federal Centers for Disease Control concludes that, "There is no convincing scientific evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site.  However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure."  They also state that, "evidence from several studies examining trends in vaccine use and changes in autism frequency does not support such an association.  Furthermore, a scientific review by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that the evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism." 

The danger from infection from H1N1 flu virus is real.   While most children and adults quickly recover from flu infections, there will be a small percentage that develop complications.  Children with long term health problems such as asthma are at greater risk of complications from flu infection.  Thus, parents need to weigh the known risks of flu infection against the unproven risk of thimerosal in the vaccine.  Until the causes of autism are fully known, parents are forced to make these difficult decisions without full information.   

Trace Thimerosal:

One of the H1N1 vaccines that will become available has what is called "trace thimerosal."  This is manufactured by Novartis.  It involves a process whereby thimerosal is used in the manufacturing process, but this is removed in the final process and the vaccine is then put into single dose injectable vials.  The amount of thimerosal in this product, as per the label, is one twenty fifth of the amount in the multidose injectble vaccine.  Thus, many parents and pregnant women may find this vaccine acceptable. 

Finally it is always helpful and important to consult your physician as to the use of these vaccines in protecting your children.  Also, changing vaccine supplies may result in clinic plan changes, so send an email to reminder@twp.maplewood.nj.us and we will send email updates.