POINT PLEASANT — The Mason County Health Department has still not received notification of when it will receive the H1N1 flu vaccine.

According to health department officials, the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health will receive the vaccine this month and is arranging for shipment to health care providers, including the local health department. The health department and other health care entities in the county are currently planning vaccination clinics.

The H1N1 flu is a new virus. It is very different from seasonal influenza viruses, although the symptoms are similar. The H1N1 virus spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing and sometimes touching objects that have been contaminated with the virus.

Symptoms of H1N1 include a sore throat, cough and fever greater than 100 degrees. In addition, those affected could experience frequent sneezing, fatigue and chills along with body aches. Diarrhea and vomiting also have been reported in some H1N1 cases.

According to Diana Riddle, administrator and nursing director of the Mason County Health Department, those who have H1N1 typically feel better within a week. However, in some cases, those affected may contract pneumonia and other serious illnesses that require hospitalization.

“Most healthy children and adults will recover without a visit to a doctor,” Riddle said. “The treatments are the same if you are sick with the seasonal flu and H1N1, and not everyone requires treatment.”

In Mason County, Ashton Elementary School was closed Oct. 8-12 due to infuenza-like illnesses. According to Assistant Superintendent Stephen Kingery, once the percentage of the total student body reporting out due to influenza like illnesses reaches 25 percent, officials from the school district and the health department must confer and determine if the school needs to be closed for a period of five days.

To date, Ashton Elementary is the only school in Mason County that has been closed due to influenza-like illnesses.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued the following priority groups to receive the H1N1 vaccine first: pregnant women; people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age; health care and emergency services personnel; people between the ages of six months and 24-years old; and people ages 25 through 64, who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 due to chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

According to the health department, a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine is not expected, but there is a possibility that the vaccine will be available in limited quantities at first. The priority groups may be re-arranged if this occurs. The goal is to make the vaccine available to those who have the highest risk of getting the H1N1 virus.

As more of the vaccine becomes available, healthy individuals ages 25 through 64 years old and adults 65 years of age and older will be able to receive the vaccine.

Although the vaccine is optional, everyone is encouraged to take it.

The H1N1 vaccine has passed studies and is expected to be as safe and effective as seasonal influenza vaccines. Children up to nine years of age are recommended to get two doses of the vaccine, which should be given about a month a part. Older children and adults only need one dose of the vaccine.

The vaccine will be available in both injection and mist forms. According to the health department, the first doses to arrive could only be in the mist form. Each person who receives the vaccine will be screened by answering questions to determine which vaccine is most appropriate for them. The screening questions are similar to questions asked when the seasonal influenza vaccine is given.

According to the health department, after much discussion and planning, it was decided to not have the H1N1 vaccination clinics in area schools during the school day.

The health department currently is planning to hold clinics in various areas of the county, and the hours of these clinics will be extended into the evenings so that parents may be present with their children as they receive the vaccine. Some parents also may fall into the priority groups and can receive their vaccine when their child does.

Information about clinic sites and times will be distributed through the schools, work places, on the health department’s Web site, radio and the Register at a later date.

The H1N1 vaccine is being provided by the federal government at no cost. Some health care providers also may be receiving the H1N1 vaccine. Health department officials urge residents to contact their physicians regarding vaccine procedures.

According Riddle, those who have the H1N1 virus or seasonal influenza are advised to stay home in order to prevent the virus from spreading.

“Stay home. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid travel,” she said, adding that regular hand washing also is necessary to help contain and prevent the virus.

For information on the H1N1 vaccine and virus, call the health department at (304)-675-3050.