SPECIAL REPORT
More on the flu, H1N1
ROCKFORD — The Winnebago County Health Department is taking appointments for healthy people ages 2 to 24 who want to receive the H1N1 nasal spray flu vaccine this week.
Appointments may be made by calling 815-720-4006 or 815-720-4007 until 5 p.m. today, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday.
The appointments are available from 2 to 6 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The nasal spray is a live vaccine used to reduce novel H1N1 for healthy people ages 2 to 24 to reach a population that spreads the virus and is more at risk for hospitalizations. Children younger than 10 will be able to receive a second dose after 30 days.
The nasal spray should not be given to pregnant women; children younger than 2; children with asthma or children younger than 4 with recurrent wheezing; children who are receiving treatments containing aspirin; children with sensitivity to eggs, egg proteins, gentamicin, gelatin, or arginine or who have had life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations; children who have a muscle, nerve, or seizure disorder that could lead to breathing or swallowing problems; anyone with a weakened immune system; anyone with a long term health problem, or anyone in close contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system (requiring care in a protected environment such as a bone-marrow transplant unit).
The nasal spray sometimes produces mild side effects such as runny nose, wheezing, sore throat, nasal congestion and fever. These are rare and less severe than any problems created by having the flu.
When more vaccine is received, the Health Department will announce plans to meet the needs of other priority groups.
For information on H1N1, visit www.wchd.org, or call the department at 815-720-4000.
Vaccination march against flu continues
Here’s how health officials are doing on inoculating the public for seasonal and swine flu:
Winnebago County: The county Health Department administered more than 650 H1N1 vaccinations to emergency services and health care workers and sent 350 more doses to hospitals and its other health care partners for their emergency services and patient care personnel.
Sue Fuller, community relations and marketing manager, said 400 additional H1N1 doses will be distributed to emergency services and health care workers, pregnant women, and infants in the WIC program.
Fuller said the agency is awaiting more seasonal flu vaccine and hopes to be able to hold a clinic in the first week of November.
Boone County: Ellen Genrich of the county’s Health Department said it has a limited supply of seasonal flu vaccine that it will offer from 1 to 3:30 p.m. today at a walk-in clinic in its office at 1204 Logan Ave., Belvidere. The agency also has a limited supply of children’s vaccines available.
H1N1 vaccine will be available at the same clinic for pregnant women, parents or other everyday caregivers of children 6 months and younger, and children age 9 and younger who would not receive shots through schools or larger day care centers.
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