County continues its battle against H1N1

PRINCETON — The Bureau County Health Department has scheduled additional clinics to combat the spread of H1N1 flu among high risk groups in Bureau County.

On Friday, Diana Rawlings, administrator of the Bureau County Health Department, announced the health department will have a H1N1 clinic for pregnant women from 8 a.m to noon Thursday at the health department. Appointments are needed. The H1N1 vaccine does contain the Thimerisol preservative, so people may want to contact their medical provider if they have questions, Rawlings said.

Another high risk group is those people who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, Rawlings said. That group’s clinic is set for 7 to 11 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Princeton Moose Lodge. No appointments are needed.

Also, a clinic has been set for people ages 25 through 64 years who have certain medical conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications. That clinic is set for 1:30 to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Princeton Moose Lodge. No appointments are needed.

The local health department nurses and nurse-volunteers have worked for the past several days vaccinating school children, which is the first high-risk group, Rawlings said. Flu viruses often spread quickly in schools because children are in close proximity to each other, she said.

“By vaccinating school children first, we may be able to slow down the spread of H1N1 influenza and lessen the number of people in the community who contract this illness,” Rawlings said.

This children-first method, which is used by many of the counties that have received the H1N1 vaccine, has been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which provides H1N1 vaccine to health departments, Rawlings said.

Area hospitals and some doctors are also receiving a supply of the H1N1 vaccine, Rawlings said. They are allowed to utilize those vaccines as they determine, as long as that use follows the guidelines set by the CDC.

In Spring Valley, St. Margaret’s Hospital has released information stating the hospital and St. Margaret’s clinics are providing H1N1 vaccinations, by appointment only, to patients who current high-risk guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control. There are no walk-in clinics at this time. There is a $13 administration fee for the H1N1 vaccine.