Vaccine moving out of schools
The Health Department will soon be offering swine flu shots at evening clinics
Date published: 11/27/2009
BY JIM HALL
The Rappahannock Area Health District will expand its H1N1 vaccination program next week with evening clinics at local Health Department offices.
The clinics begin Monday and will be open to those in high-priority groups.
Until now, health officials have directed most of the swine flu vaccine they have received to schoolchildren. Since mid-October, about 12,000 children have been vaccinated at clinics at public and private schools throughout the region.
Now, with the school clinics winding down, officials have turned to other priority groups, such as pregnant women, preschoolers, college students, those who care for infants, and adults with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.
The new sessions will be by appointment only from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays. The clinics will move throughout the region, with each local Health Department office hosting one on a different day of the week. Residents can attend any of the clinics.
There is no charge for the vaccine. Both the injectable and nasal-mist varieties will be offered, if they are available, said Michele Winters-Callender, senior nurse manager for the district.
"We're seeing a little bit more vaccine, but not anything dramatic," Winters-Callender said.
The local offices are closed today but will begin taking appointments Monday, Winters-Callender said.
Jim Hall: 540/374-5433 Email: jhall@freelancestar.com
Local Health Department offices will host H1N1 vaccination clinics for high-risk people, beginning Monday.
All clinics are from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. An appointment is required. Residents can go to any of the clinics.
The schedule is:
Mondays: Stafford Health Department, 540/659-3101
Tuesdays: King George Health Department, 540/775-3111.
Wednesdays: Fredericksburg Health Department, 540/899-4142
Thursdays: Spotsylvania Health Department, 540/507-7400, and Caroline Health Department, 804/633-5465
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Date published: 11/27/2009
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