Novel H1N1 vaccine available at health dept.

[October 20, 2009]  The Logan County Department of Public Health has received a supply of injectable novel H1N1 influenza vaccine. The health department will have clinics offering the novel H1N1 vaccine beginning Wednesday.

Clinic hours will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. at 109 Third St. These special clinic hours are expected to end on Nov. 6. This vaccine will also be available on the HOPE Mobile during its regularly scheduled stops.

Currently the health department is offering the novel H1N1 vaccine to the following priority group only. The priority group consists of:

• Pregnant women.

• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age.

• Health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact.

• Children 6 months through 24 years of age.

Those eligible may obtain this vaccine free of charge without an appointment during the clinic hours.

"Certain people are at higher risk of complications due to the novel H1N1 flu, and others work with populations at risk of complications, and we continue to ask you to allow these people to receive their novel H1N1 flu vaccine first," said Mark Hilliard, administrator of the health department.

"As more vaccine becomes available, we will expand the eligibility and anticipate we will be able to vaccinate everyone who wants to be," Hilliard said.

To stay healthy and limit the spread of flu, remember the three "C's":

• CLEAN -- Wash your hands often.

• COVER -- Cover your cough and sneeze.

• CONTAIN -- Contain your germs. Stay home if you are sick.

[Text from file received from the Logan County Department of Public Health]