Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon started getting its first doses of H1N1 vaccine Monday. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The first doses are being held for people on a priority list.

That is: children older than 6 months; young adults up to 24; pregnant women; healthcare workers; law enforcement staff; and people 25 to 64 who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk of flu complications.

Trouble is, the first doses are in the form of a nasal spray and many people on the priority list shouldn’t be inoculated that way.

The state says they’ll have to wait about a week for injectable vaccine. Meanwhile, several hospitals are keeping kids from visiting.

Rob Henrickson is with OHSU.

Rob Henrickson: “Children under 12, it seems like they may be infectious for longer than adults. They’re also less likely to do the things that are necessary to prevent spreading the disease, which is coughing into a tissue, sneezing into a tissue, covering your cough, washing your hands frequently.” 

The Prospect School District, which closed last week with about a third of its staff and students ill, opened again this week, with just two absences.