By Lorie Love Hailey
Fears about the H1N1 vaccine are easing in Madison County, according to Christie Green, spokesperson for the health department.
The department has distributed more than 5,000 doses of the vaccine, Green said. Across the state, health departments and private providers have administered more than 200,000 doses since shipments began in early October.
“It appears as information about the (H1N1) vaccine has become available, more people are deciding it is OK to take it,” Green said. “People also are becoming more willing to take the flu-mist if they’re healthy and not pregnant.”
The amount of H1N1 vaccine being shipped is increasing. In Madison County, the health department is able to provide small supplies of vaccine to other health care professionals in the community.
“Hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and pharmacies can sign up to become approved providers of the H1N1 vaccine for the public,” said Barbara Turner, deputy director of the health department. “We have a number of health-care providers who have signed up in Madison County, and they will be receiving vaccine over the next few weeks as shipments continue to increase.”
The health department has planned another H1N1 walk-in clinic for Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Injection and intranasal (flu-mist) forms of the vaccine will be available.
The clinics are open to anyone in the Centers for Disease Control’s target populations, which include pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six months of age, health-care and emergency-medical personnel, all people from six months through 24 years of age and persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
The CDC recommends that children age 9 years and younger should take two doses of the H1N1 vaccine to have full immunity against the virus, Green said.
“The second dose should be taken at least 21 days after the first dose. Children who received the first dose at one of the walk-in clinics in November will be ready for a second dose of the vaccine by Dec. 12,” Green said.
The department is out of seasonal flu vaccine except for a small amount reserved for children without insurance.
Green reminded local residents that there is no flu clinic scheduled for Saturday. A misprint in the newspaper has caused some confusion, she said.
For more information, call the Richmond clinic at 623-7312 or the Berea clinic at 986-1192.
Lorie Love Hailey can be reached at llove@
richmondregister.com or 624-6690.
