Health department responds to flu shot questions

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PRINCETON — Vaccinations for the seasonal flu will be available to Bureau County residents throughout the next three weeks.

On Wednesday, Diana Rawlings, administrator for the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department, said the health department has been getting hundreds of calls about the coming flu season and when/what vaccines will be available.

The “regular” or seasonal flu vaccines will be available Tuesday at flu clinics in Neponset, Sheffield and Buda, Rawlings said. Twenty clinics will be conducted in the next three weeks.

However, the local health department will not conduct a large clinic this year in Princeton, but it will instead have several smaller clinics in Princeton, Rawlings said. The big clinic takes a lot of time to plan and conduct, and the health department needs the time this year to plan for a second round of shots when the H1N1 vaccine arrives, she said.

The seasonal flu shots are geared toward the entire population, and the Center for Disease Control is recommending everyone get at least a seasonal flu shot this year, unless their doctor recommends against it, Rawlings said.

The local health department does have all its requested seasonal flu vaccines on hand this year, Rawlings said. The seasonal flu shots will be given only at the various clinics throughout the county and not at the health department office at this time.

Concerning the H1N1 flu, Rawlings said the local health department will notify Bureau County residents when the H1N1 vaccine becomes available. The H1N1 vaccination will be given first to high priority groups, which includes children ages 6 months to 24 years and pregnant women.

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