This year Cambridge public health nurses have been dispensing two vaccines for flu. While delivery of both vaccines was significantly delayed in October and November of 2009, we are happy to report that today the H1N1 vaccine supply is sufficient for all who wish to be vaccinated. The supply of seasonal flu vaccine is more limited, but it is still available for those who want it.
The emergence of H1N1 flu in the spring of 2009 led to the first global flu pandemic in 40 years. While most people who get sick from H1N1 flu have mild or moderate illness, some people require medical treatment and hospitalization.
From the end of August through early November 2009, more than 26,000 Americans were hospitalized with H1N1 flu, including more than 1,000 people who died from the virus. In Massachusetts, from April through Nov. 20, more than 1,750 residents were hospitalized with H1N1 flu, including 17 people who died.
Fortunately, the incidence of H1N1 has been declining since mid-November. However, influenza commonly comes in waves, so it is still important to do everything possible to prevent infection and the spread of H1N1. Vaccine is now widely available and is especially recommended for pregnant women, health care workers, people age 6 months through 23 years, and adults under age 65 who have medical conditions that place them at risk for serious complications from the flu. See below for information about upcoming clinics, or call the FluLine, updated weekly, at 617-665-3855.
The flu (short for "influenza") is an illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu usually spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Every year, about 200,000 people living in the United States are hospitalized with the seasonal flu and 36,000 die from flu-related complications.
Each fall, vaccine is offered to protect against seasonal flu during the winter months. In the fall of 2009, demand for seasonal flu vaccine was extremely high nationwide, and when the supply of vaccine ran low vaccinations were temporarily limited to those in certain high-risk categories. While the supply is still limited, we are happy to announce that currently the seasonal flu vaccine is available to all who wish to be vaccinated. Seasonal flu vaccine is especially recommended for health care providers, parents and caregivers of children, people age 65 or older, and people with underlying health conditions that put them at special risk for complications from the flu.
Here are some simple strategies for staying healthy this flu season and protecting your family, friends, and co-workers who may be at risk for serious complications from seasonal flu or H1N1 flu.
- Get vaccinated, if possible. While vaccination is recommended for anyone who wishes to avoid infection, there are some health conditions that put people at higher risk for serious complications from H1N1. To find out if you belong to an at-risk group, see Recommendations for Influenza Vaccination by Risk Group and Age Group (PDF) and Who Should Get Vaccinated? (PDF).
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
- If you're sick, stay home from school or work.
Your health care provider can talk with you about whether you are at risk, and may be able to offer you vaccine.
Feb. 3
From 9:00-11:00 am, vaccine for both seasonal flu and H1N1 will be offered to anyone over 6 months old. The clinic will be held at in the drop-in lounge of the Citywide Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave.
Feb. 10
From 5:30-7:30 pm, vaccine for both seasonal flu and H1N1 will be offered to anyone over 6 months old. The clinic will be held in the community room at Fresh Pond Apartments, 364 Rindge Ave. in Cambridge.
Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10 am-noon, injectable H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines are available to all (ages 6 months and up) at the Cambridge Public Health Department, 119 Windsor Street, ground floor. Nasal spray vaccine is no longer available at CPHD.
Please call the Cambridge Public Health Department's recorded FluLine at 617-665-3855 for the most current updates on both flu vaccines, or visit www.cambridgepublichealth.org.
To locate pharmacies and public flu clinics in other communities that may be offering seasonal flu vaccine, visit flu.masspro.org/clinic/.
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H1N1 & Seasonal Flu 
