10-30-09

H1N1 vaccine clinic offered for limited groups

Community Health of Kossuth Regional Health Center will offer a H1N1 vaccine clinic on Monday, November 2 in the KRHC clinic lobby from 5 to 6 p.m. or until vaccine runs out. 

Due to the visitation restriction policy, the public is asked to enter through the clinic doors instead of the main hospital doors and to not arrive at the clinic until 5 p.m.  Only the shot form of the vaccine will be available at this clinic. As a limited number of doses are available, only those that meet the following criteria can receive the vaccine:

• Pregnant women
• Children age 6 months to 23 months and
• People with underlying health conditions, who live with or provide care for infants under six months of age, including parents, siblings and day care providers
• Healthcare and EMS personnel who have an underlying health condition and have direct contact (come within three to six feet) with flu patients or infectious material
• Children age two to four years with an underlying health condition

The health conditions that qualify include chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular except hypertension, renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurological – neuromuscular, hematological, metabolic including diabetes, and immunosuppression by medication or HIV.  Priority will be given to people between the ages of 2 and 64 requiring current and regular medical care.

“Since we generally recommend that healthy people receive the vaccine in mist form, vaccine in the shot form is reserved for pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions,” said Dixie Meyer of KRHC Community Health.

At this time no school-aged children will be given the H1N1 vaccine, instead they will receive the vaccine at upcoming school-based clinics.

For additional information about H1N1 or the seasonal flu call the Community Health Hotline at 515-295-4451 or go to www.krhc.com.