Updated 12/17/09

The Health Department is allowing HealthPoint to offer H1N1 vaccinations beyond the target groups.  All patients under 65 years of age may contact their HealthPoint physician’s office to check availability and schedule a vaccination.

Recommendations & FAQs

1) Do you have the H1N1 Vaccine?

The following HealthPoint offices have the H1N1 Vaccine available for their patients of record.  The Nasal Mist Vaccine is NOT recommended for pregnant women, children under 2 years and anyone with chronic medical conditions where vaccine is recommended*.  Please refer to the Hillsborough County Schools website if you would like your children to be vaccinated at school.

The CDC has asked for a non-safety recall of four lots of pre-filled syringe doses for children 6 to 36 months of age.  In testing after distribution, the antigen content (potency) has fallen below specifications.  The CDC states that there is NO clinical significance to this and does not recommend any action for those vaccinated with these lots.  HealthPoint DID NOT receive any of these lots.  For more information, go to  www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/syringes_qa.htm .

Nasal Mist AND Shots:

• Bloomingdale Square
• Cypress Creek
• Grand Plaza
• Parsons
• South Tampa Pediatrics
• Valrico Square
• Van Dyke Adult
• Van Dyke Pediatrics
• Virginia

Shots Only:

• Apollo Beach
• Bearss Village
• Premier North
• South Tampa Adult
• Walden Lake
• Westchase Adult
• Westchase Pediatrics
• Obstetrics-Gynecology Hospitalists

The following HealthPoint offices have NOT received either form of the H1N1 Vaccine, or are temporarily out:

• SJH Medical Arts Bldg

* Chronic medical conditions that confer a higher risk for influenza-related complications include chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus) or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus).

2) I had a seasonal flu vaccine, do I also need to get a vaccine for swine flu?

Yes, both are needed to protect you against different types of flu.  The Florida Department of Health has provided additional information on the difference between seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine; click here.

3) Am I in a “target group” to receive the vaccine?

Please see Question 1 above.

4) If I think I have the flu, do I need to see my doctor? 

• Probably not: most people will recover without needing medical care.
• Unless you fall into a category with a high risk of complications, you do not need to see a doctor.

5) Who has a high risk of complications?

People at high-risk for complications of novel influenza (H1N1) virus infection include:

• Children younger than 5 years old
• Adults 65 years of age and older
• Persons with the following conditions:
  - Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
  - Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV; Pregnancy; Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy; Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

The H1N1 influenza virus has generally caused complications in younger patients.  The goal is to immunize all patients at risk.

6) If I think I have the flu, don’t I need to have a flu test?

The flu is now wide-spread, and there is no need to test. The testing was initially done to determine if the flu was spreading and where.

7) Don’t I need to have a flu test to determine what treatment I need?

No. If you have signs and symptoms of the flu, treatment is the same whether you have a positive flu test or not.   

8) What are the “signs and symptoms” of the flu?

Signs and symptoms of influenza-like-illness include: fever greater than 100º, sore throat, cough, runny nose.

9) Do I need to have a prescription for Tamiflu (or other anti-viral) if I have influenza-like-illness?

• If you are sick enough to be in the hospital, you may need to take an anti-viral medication, like Tamiflu.
• If you are in one of the “high risk categories” listed above, your doctor may prescribe an anti-viral medication.

10) If I don’t have symptoms, but I know I was around someone who has the flu, should I get a prescription for Tamiflu?

• No.  Antiviral treatment is not recommended for those not meeting the above criteria.
• More information about the CDC’s recommendations for treatment can be found at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

11) How long do I need to stay home from work/school?

Anyone with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not attend work, school or go into the community except to seek medical care for at least 24 hours after you stop running a fever.

12) Do I need a Doctor’s note or permission to return to school or work?

This should not be necessary.  Since most people who get the flu do not need to seek medical care, there would be no reason to require a note to return to work. You should follow the above recommendations and wait until you have been free of fever for at least 24 hours.  For a copy of the Florida Department of Health / Hillsborough County Health Department position regarding returning to school or work, click here.

13) If I think have the flu, do I need to go the Emergency Room or hospital?

You can treat the flu at home unless you experience any of the emergency warning signs, outlined below. 

Emergency Warning Signs

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

For more information on what to do if you get flu-like symptoms click here.

For local updates visit:

• Florida Department of Health
• Hillsborough County Health Department