South Carolina has a limited number of H1N1 flu vaccines at the moment and these are being given to people on the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) priority list. This group includes pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health-care and emergency medical services personnel, people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old and people ages 25 through 64 years old, who are at higher risk for the virus due to chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. Check to see if you belong to a group listed by clicking on the CDC link above.
If you get the shakes just thinking about getting a needle, you may be able to receive the vaccine in nasal mist form but you will need to check first to see whether you can safely take the nasal mist form of the flu vaccine or will have to get a shot. People who can safely get the nasal mist flu vaccine are as follows:
The list of people who can’t receive this shot is longer, so be sure to check. Basically, if you are pregnant, have a compromised immune system or a chronic health problem, you are not eligible for the nasal spray vaccine, as it could cause your condition to worsen. Also very young children and people over 50 should not get the nasal spray. Again, please check the list to get full details.
More shipments of the swine flu vaccine will be arriving in the coming weeks and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (S.C. DHEC) website will be adding new clinic listings as they become available.
There is a flu clinic finder on the South Carolina website where you can learn when and where you can get a seasonal flu vaccine and an H1N1 flu (swine flu) vaccine in your local community. Simply type in the county where you live and the type of clinic you’re looking for, i.e. for a seasonal flu shot, a swine flu shot or “all” for both types of clinics.
Currently, seasonal flu shots are being offered by doctors, local public health departments, drugstores, and urgent care centers throughout the state. You should contact your private health care provider to find out if he or she will be providing the vaccine. Local pharmacies that signed up to provide the swine flu vaccine, will advertise when it becomes available.
If you have any questions about the H1N1 vaccine, you can call 1-800-27SHOTS (1-800-2774687.)
