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The Southern Nevada Health District has announced that it will be offering the intranasal vaccine at its 625 Shadow Lane public health center. FluMist will be available to members of the CDC-recommended priority groups who qualify for the vaccine.  The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is free of charge. For additional information visit www.SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict.org or www.snhd.info or call the Nevada Helpline, (702) 759-4636 (INFO).

The health district is reassuring the public that more deliveries of injectable vaccine are expected and supplies will be replenished within seven to 10 days. There is an ample supply of FluMist and it is recommended for people in the priority groups who are able to receive it.

Additionally, there are physicians and health care providers in the community who have received supplies of the vaccine. People who fall into the priority groups can contact their health care provider to see if the vaccine is available.

The FluMist vaccine is a live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) version of the immunization that is safe for healthy people between the ages of two and 49 who are not pregnant. Currently the health district is offering the intranasal vaccine to the following priority groups:

• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact
• Children between the ages of 2 and 4

The mist has been administered to the public for five years for seasonal flu. It is recommended for most health care workers and there are no reports of transmission of influenza virus to patients in health care settings.

Until adequate immunization rates for H1N1 are achieved, the best way to prevent influenza is to practice good health habits. This influenza season, there are two different immunizations available to protect against illness: the new 2009 novel H1N1 vaccine as well as the seasonal flu vaccine.