The Peoria City/County Health Department and the Marshall County Health Department have administered over 5,000 doses of vaccine since beginning their H1N1 immunization campaign in early November. “Our focus remains on providing H1N1 vaccine to the designated priority groups via scheduled walk-in clinics through December 9, 2009” stated Greg Chance, Public Health Administrator for Peoria City/County Health Department. Chance further commented that there has been a H1N1 immunization clinic held every day of the work week in either Peoria or Marshall County since November 9th.

Initial outbreaks of the H1N1 influenza virus revealed that certain groups of people are at greater risk for serious health problems or death due to the H1N1 influenza. These groups are different than the individuals most at risk due to the seasonal flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently restricts the H1N1 vaccination to priority groups most at risk of serious complications from the H1N1 virus. These groups are pregnant women; people caring for infants under 6 months of age; individuals 6 months to 24 years; those people age 25-64 with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or compromised immune systems; and direct contact healthcare workers.

Additionally, the Health Departments have provided H1N1 vaccine to medical providers in the community to administer to their patients that fall within priority groups.

Mr. Chance urges anyone in the priority groups to attend an H1N1 vaccine clinic to protect themselves and others. Scheduled walk-in H1N1 priority group clinics include the following:

Varna Fire State, Varna, November 24, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Farmington High School, Farmington, November 30, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Monroe Elementary, Bartonville, December 2, 4:00 -7:00 p.m.
Elmwood High School, Elmwood, December 3, 3:45 – 6:45 p.m.
Woodruff High School, Peoria, December 8, 4:00 -7:00 p.m.
Midland High School, Varna, December 9, 4:00 -7:00 p.m.

Other upcoming clinic times to be announced.

At this time, the Health Departments are currently evaluating the success of the large-scale H1N1 immunization clinics to determine if there is a more appropriate alternative method to provide the H1N1 vaccine to the public after December 9th.

Individuals should continue to practice preventative measures while waiting for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots to become widely available; clean your hands frequently, cover your nose and mouth when coughing, and contain spread of the flu virus by staying home when you are ill.

For more information about the flu visit www.pcchd.org or www.marshallcountyhealth.org.