Published: November 03, 2009 08:56 pm      

H1N1 flu vaccine clinics scheduled

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The first two clinics to administer the H1N1 flu vaccine have been scheduled by the Jefferson County Health Department, with District 80 students being offered the shots first.

The first clinic for District 80 students will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Primary Center. According to Judy McLaughlin of the health department, the district has sent home paperwork for parents and guardians to complete when they bring their child to the free vaccination clinic.

“As we have said in the past, we will be administering the limited supply of vaccine we have received by the CDC guidelines for high risk populations,” McLaughlin said. “There are about 1,800 students in District 80, so we are trying to get the larger amount of the targeted population administered first.”

Jefferson County Health Department received 1,000 doses of the vaccine last week, and a second clinic has been scheduled on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or as long as the vaccine supplies last for the remainder of children in the community and for others on the CDC high risk list. Two clinics have been scheduled for Opdyke-Belle Rive students, on Nov. 10, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Belle Rive Grade School and from noon to 2 p.m. at Opdyke Grade School. McLaughlin said some doses are being set aside for the Opdyke-Belle Rive clinics.

High risk populations are pregnant women; people who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months old, such as parents, siblings and day care providers; health care and emergency medical services personnel; people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years of age; and those over the age of 25 through 64 years old who have medical conditions associated with a higher risk of influenza complications.

“We have 1,000 doses now, and we’re expecting more,” McLaughlin said. “Hopefully, we’ll get another shipment this month and then another in December. That way we can get everyone vaccinated.”

McLaughlin said children under the age of 10 who receive the vaccine will need to get another dose in about four weeks for complete protection from the vaccine.

“If they get their first dose now, they will get some protection,” McLaughlin explained. “By (the time they need the second dose) we should have received the next shipment and parents can get them the second dose as recommended.”

Health department officials are asking for patience from the public, and state after those who are at risk for complications are vaccinated, the vaccine will be offered to healthy persons ages 25 through 64 years of age and to those who are 65 years of age and older.

McLaughlin said those with questions about the vaccine clinics may contact the Jefferson County Health Department at 244-7134, or online at the Web site, which is being updated to include new information about the clinics at www.jeffcohealth.com.