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Public H1N1 clinic scheduled

Pratt Medical Center is offering the H1N1 vaccine to high-priority groups

Date published: 11/10/2009

BY JIM HALL

The supply of H1N1 vaccine may be expanding slightly with new clinics planned or under way for high-priority groups.

The new offerings include two more school clinics later this week, and the start of public vaccinations yesterday by a commercial provider, Pratt Medical Center.

In addition, the Rappahannock Area Health District has tentative plans for a new set of public clinics next week.

Pratt is one of the largest medical practices in the region with six offices and 16 physicians. It has about 1,600 doses of the swine flu vaccine, both injectable and nasal-mist varieties, said Robert Alexander, CEO.

Pratt gave the vaccine first to its patients, and then to fire and EMS workers and workers in local doctors' offices, Alexander said. Yesterday, it began offering shots to other high-risk people, especially those who have not been able to attend school-based clinics.

"We're going to push it as far as we can," Alexander said.

The new supply may help parents such as Silvia Govoni, who have been unable to find shots for their preschoolers.

Govoni said yesterday that she and her husband moved to Stafford County about two months ago when he was stationed at the Quantico Marine Base.

She said she does not have a local pediatrician for her only child, 4-year-old Angie. In addition, the clinic at the Quantico base is not offering the shot, she said.

"I'm trying to sit back and not get pulled into the hysteria," Govoni said.

More than 9,000 children have been vaccinated in the school-based H1N1 clinics that began Oct. 19. But thousands of other high-risk people have not received shots.

"We really need to target some of these folks," said Dr. John Petrasky, health district director.

Petrasky said that if enough vaccine arrives, the district hopes to sponsor evening clinics at the five Health Department offices, beginning next week. He said he hopes to complete a schedule for these clinics later this week.

Petrasky said he does have enough vaccine to supply two more school-based clinics this week.

Fredericksburg will get 600 doses for a clinic Wednesday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at Lafayette Upper Elementary School.

Spotsylvania will get a minimum of 1,000 doses for a clinic Thursday, beginning at 5 p.m., at Spotsylvania High School. Both clinics will have both the injectable and nasal-mist versions of the vaccine.

Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
Email: jhall@freelancestar.com

PRIORITY GROUPS The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified five groups that should be the first to receive the H1N1 vaccine. They are: Children and young adults, 6 months through 24 years. Pregnant women. Household contacts or caregivers for children under 6 months. People 25 though 64 with chronic medical conditions. Health care and emergency medical workers. Pratt Medical Center has H1N1 vaccine that it is offering by appointment to high-risk groups. Shots are offered at Pratt's office on State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County (540/785-7810) and its Garrisonville Road office in Stafford County (540/659-2111). The cost is $15 to cover administrative costs, said Robert Alexander, CEO.

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Date published: 11/10/2009

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