Swine flu shots are now open to everyone, state officials said today as they lifted the restrictions that had limited the vaccine to people considered high risk. The announcement came along with news of four more deaths from swine flu, also known as H1N1, in the last month. Including those four, the state’s confirmed deaths from swine flu total 38, according to Heather Howard, commissioner of the Health and Senior Services Department. The most recent deaths include a 3-year-old Bergen County girl, a 55-year-old Morris County man and a 21-year-old Warren County man, all with underlying medical conditions, state officials said. A 46-year-old Middlesex County man with no underlying medical conditions also died.
Howard said the state decided to expand inoculation eligibility after getting a boost of the vaccine and hearing reports from providers that demand for it among those in the target groups is down.
The department also said school absenteeism, emergency room visits and the number of hospital admissions from swine flu complications in the last four weeks have decreased.
Just before the state’s announcement, retail drugstore chain Walgreens issued a news release saying it would be offering vaccinations in many stores located in New Jersey and 26 other states, as well as the District of Columbia.
The state Health Department cautioned people to remain vigilant and said those at high risk should be vaccinated as soon as possible.
“We want people to understand there’s still virus out there, it’s still widespread throughout the state,” Deputy Health Commissioner Susan Walsh said, “and there still might be death.”
Vaccine providers previously targeted pregnant women, children and young adults between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, people ages 25 to 64 with underlying health conditions, medical personnel, health care workers and people who care for children younger than 6 months.
Public swine flu vaccination clinics are being offered in nearly every county, although providers are still permitted to schedule clinics for priority groups only.
New Jerseyans can find public vaccination clinics on the state’s website, www.nj.gov/health. They also can call (866) 321-9571 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Walgreens said it is making the vaccine available for $18 in its drugstores and Take Care Clinics. Information about the shots is available at (800) Walgreens or www.walgreens.com/flu. For Take Care Clinics, call (866) Take-Care or visit www.takecarehealth.com.
Consumers also can call other pharmacies and stores offering the vaccine to check on availability.
Howard also said New Jersey received 18,000 doses of the vaccine that had been recalled because their potency had dropped, but the shots are considered safe and effective. She said children who received them do not need to repeat the initial shot. Star Ledger.