A shortage of the H1N1 vaccine has prompted the cancellation of the immunization clinics that were scheduled this week for Bailly and Yost elementary schools.

Meanwhile, Porter Hospital announced a temporary change in visitation procedures -- including no visitation by those under the age of 18 -- while Valparaiso University has confirmed two cases of the H1N1 flu.

The Porter County Health Department has announced that due to the shortage of H1N1 vaccines, it will reschedule the clinics that had been set for this week at Yost and Bailly.

The clinics at Brummitt and Liberty Elementary scheduled for Wednesday will still go on.

Health Department Administrator Keith Letta emphasized that all immunization clinics are subject to change, since the health department doesn’t get much advance notice of how much of the vaccine will be delivered.

Instead of large shipments, the department has been getting smaller deliveries of the vaccine -- anywhere from 200 one day to 600 another day -- due to the national shortage.

Letta did note, though, that the vaccines were not expected to be available in large supply until late this month, so the vaccines that have been available have been administered earlier than anticipated.

The Health Department is scheduling in-school H1N1 immunization clinics as the individual schools confirm their participation and as the vaccines are available. The health department last week administered more than 500 vaccines at Jackson Elementary and at St. Patrick’s School.

Meanwhile, Porter Health System has announced that as of Monday, it has temporarily altered its visitor guidelines to help protect its patients, visitors and staff from unnecessary exposure to the flu.

Under the temporary guidelines, visitors under 18 are not permitted to visit hospital patients, and visitors are asked not to bring anyone under 18 into any Porter waiting area unless that person is in the hospital for treatment.

Also, the number of visitors for all patients is limited to two, and only essential adult visitors are allowed to visit patients.

The guidelines are in effect at all Porter Health System facilities including the medical campuses in Chesterton, Valparaiso, Portage, Demotte, and Hebron and the Sleep Disorders Institute, the Valparaiso Outpatient Campus, Education and Rehabilitation Campus, NIOMS, and Portage and Westchester Medical Groups offices.

“Children and young adults are particularly vulnerable to this new flu, and we know from seasonal flu that children are often the source of influenza outbreaks,” said Taffy Arias, Porter’s Chief Nursing Officer.

“By limiting child visitors, we are attempting to protect vulnerable patients from exposure to H1N1 and thereby complicating their hospital stay.”

Valparaiso University said two students who tested positive for Type A influenza earlier this month were confirmed by the Indiana State Department of Health to have contracted H1N1.

Both students have recovered and have returned to class, VU said.

The university is encouraging all students with flu-like symptoms to return home if possible or to isolate themselves in their room until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

VU staff are delivering box meals to students with flu symptoms who are isolating themselves in their residence hall rooms while recovering.

The university also is continuing its ongoing flu prevention efforts, by offering numerous flu vaccination clinics, making hand sanitizers available in buildings, and encouraging proper hand-washing and respiratory etiquette.

To date, approximately 40 students have reported flu-like symptoms, though most are experiencing relatively mild flu symptoms.

More information about VU’s flu prevention efforts is online at http://www.valpo.edu/healthcenter/flu/

The Porter County Health Department is also continually posting updates about the flu, and H1N1 in particular, at porterco.org/flu

Posted 10/27/2009