INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The Indian River County Health Department will conduct its first H1N1 public vaccination clinic for county residents in the five identified priority groups on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Indian River County Fairgrounds. A total of 4,000 doses will be available at the clinic, which runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until vaccine quantities are exhausted. The vaccination is voluntary and free. Saturday’s clinic is intended for people identified by the Center for Disease Control as being at highest risk for complications related to H1N1 influenza, those most likely to come in contact with H1N1, and those most likely to infect young infants.
These include pregnant women, persons aged six months through 24 years of age, household and caregiver contacts of children younger than six months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, and persons aged 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and kidney disease.
“Since we currently have limited amounts of vaccine, we are asking people to be patient and to understand that Saturday’s clinic is for those in the CDC’s priority groups,” said Miranda Swanson, health department administrator. “Eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants it. Right now it’s important to continue practicing prevention by washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when feeling ill.”
The mass vaccination at the Indian River County Fairgrounds is the next step in IRCHD’s plan to make H1N1 vaccine available to county residents. Last week, the department provided 1,371 vaccinations over three nights of clinics at its Vero Beach facility for children aged six months through high school age. In the interest of minimizing wait times at Saturday’s clinic at the fairgrounds, IRCHD recommends that people arrive throughout the day.
Those younger than 18 years of age cannot sign the required consent form and must be accompanied by a family member or legal guardian authorized to provide consent. Children aged six months through nine years need to receive two doses of the H1N1 vaccine separated by an interval of 28 days (minimum 21 days) in order to develop the same level of immunity that older people attain from a single dose.
For more information visit the county health department Web site at, www.MyIRCHD.com.
