More seasonal flu shots given
By Donna Barker
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dbarker@bcrnews.com
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| Six-month-old Erick Aley rests in the shelter of his mom, Sarah Aley’s arms, while nurse Lynette Weidner zips up his sleeper after giving Erick his H1N1 shot. About 70 shots were given during the Wednesday morning session at Douglas School in Princeton. The Bureau/Putnam County Health Department has received H1N1 dosages for all school children in the county. (BCR photo/Donna Barker) |
PRINCETON — More people than usual are showing up to get their seasonal flu shots this year, according to Diana Rawlings, administrator of the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department.
On Wednesday, Rawlings said final numbers aren’t in yet for the seasonal flu shots, but attendance has been up so far at each of the approximate 20 clinics around the county. The health department’s seasonal flu clinics will wrap up this week with clinics in Wyanet, Tiskilwa, Malden, Ohio and LaMoille.
However, the seasonal flu clinic at the Princeton Prouty Building scheduled for Monday has been canceled, since the health department has already done several Princeton clinics this year with good turnouts, Rawlings said. Also, the seasonal flu clinic set for the Zearing Child Enrichment Center has been closed for just children who go to that center. The health department will possibly have an additional seasonal flu clinic after the H1N1 flu vaccines are given out, Rawlings said.
Looking at the reason for the increased attendance at the recent flu clinics, Rawlings said the Centers for Disease Control has strongly recommended everyone get the seasonal flu shot this year, which might have been a factor. Also, some people concerned about the H1N1 flu may have decided to get at least a seasonal flu shot.
As far as the H1N1 flu vaccine, Rawlings said the local health department has received 6,000 dosages, compared to the requested 35,000 for each person in the county. However, some of the neighboring counties have not yet received any H1N1 vaccines at all, she said.
“Right now, we have enough H1N1 dosages for every school child in Bureau County,” Rawlings said. “We have contacted the Illinois Department of Public Health, and they have approved us giving the H1N1 vaccine to school children first. By going to the schools first and getting those children protected, we hope to keep the H1N1 flu under control in Bureau County.”
The H1N1 flu clinics have started this week at Bureau County schools and will continue for the next several weeks. Only the students at that school will be given the shot, not other siblings or students from other schools, Rawlings said. Parents are asked to watch their school’s Web site and/or other correspondence from the school for the date and time of the H1N1 vaccinations at the individual school.
In looking at the widespread potential of H1N1 flu, Rawlings said H1N1 flu is a new virus for which no one would have built up immunity yet, making it more likely to spread quickly.
“We are moving as quickly as we can at the health department,” Rawlings said. “We will continue to closely monitor the situation and to make adjustments as needed, and we will keep the public informed.
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