Small shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine have begun to be received in Richmond County, Health Director Dr. Tommy Jarrell said Tuesday night, though adequate supplies aren’t expected until middle or late November.

This timeline led Health Department Medical Director Masoud Ahdieh to make the observation the current presence of the virus and delayed arrival of the vaccine mean many will have already been exposed by the time they would gain any immunity from the vaccine.

“We’re talking about middle or late November, then the vaccine takes 10 days to two weeks before you gain any immunity to the virus,” Ahdieh said. “I assume most of us will get exposed to H1N1 before the vaccine goes out.”

A top official at the Centers for Disease Control announced Wednesday morning production of the vaccine is behind schedule.

Dr. Anne Schuchat was quoted by the Associated Press saying citizens need to continue to practice preventative measures like hand-washing and respiratory etiquette to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We wish we had more vaccine, but unfortunately the virus and the production of the vaccine aren’t really cooperating,” she was quoted.

The federal government has funded production of the virus for every man, woman and child in the state of North Carolina.

“What few doses we have, we’ve been giving out,” Jarrell told board members. “We’ve received 200 doses, but there are also small shipments going out to private physician’s offices and local pharmacies, so we’re not the only ones in the county with the vaccine.”

Because of the lack of certainty as to when the doses will come in, Jarrell said it is to be determined when the health department will visit area schools to administer the vaccine.

Board member Rick Sago asked about the availability of the preservative-free vaccine, which is recommended for pregnant women.

Many also feel this should be the recommendation of children because of the presence of the mercury-derivative thermosol.

Jarrell explained the differences between the different forms of the vaccine.

“There are five different companies producing the vaccine, and some are producing the live virus, some are producing the dead virus, but we haven’t gotten any of the preservative-free vaccine in yet.”

“So what you’re telling me is we don’t have any of the vaccine for pregnant women yet?” Sago asked.

The answer was affirmative.

Board member Dr. Melva Bowman also asked for guidance concerning youthful patients.

“Children that have come in, and we treated them for flu-like symptoms, are they being recommended to get the vaccine, as well?” Bowman asked.

“It is being recommended that everyone take the virus,” Jarrell replied.

In other business:

n The Health Board voted unanimously to submit a letter of support for a project to provide low-income housing for the elderly in Rockingham.

The project proposal is from Scott A. Redinger Inc., a land developer, and has already had a zoning request granted by the City of Rockingham.

Some members questioned the profit motive of the project, but elected to submit the letter in the end.

n The Health Board also signed on to a mandatory program to prevent identity theft.

It is pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission’s “Red Flag Rule,” which stipulates suspicious activity be flagged.

Jarrell explained to board members the greatest incidence of this type of fraud at the health department is people accessing services with false Social Security numbers.

n Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.