ROCKFORD — The Winnebago County Health Department is offering three appointment-only H1N1 vaccine clinics for target population groups. Appointments may be scheduled by calling the department’s new 24-hour-a-day telephone number at 800-649-2381.
The clinic dates and times are 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15. The location will be set when the appointment is made.
All forms of the H1N1 vaccine, including a limited supply of the nasal spray, will be made available free of charge at these sites.
Target groups for the vaccination clinics, based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, are pregnant women; parents and caregivers of children 6 months and younger; people age 6 months to 24 years, people age 25 to 64 who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, and health-care and emergency medical-services personnel.
Appointments for a second dose should be made for children 9 or younger who received their first dose before Nov. 10.
Health Department officials said that although it is not possible to predict future influenza incidence or consequences, the pandemic has been similar in a number of ways to the 1957-58 pandemic.
In that pandemic, as with now, there was a large surge of cases at the beginning of a school year in September and October, followed by a decline of cases. The decline was followed by a substantial increase in the number of severe illnesses over the winter of 1957-58.
“Influenza is unpredictable, and vaccination is the best defense,” Public Health Administrator Mike Bacon said. “We continue to encourage residents to guard against influenza in all its forms by getting vaccinated and following the 3 C’s: Clean your hands, Cover your cough and Contain your germs by staying home if you are sick.”
Bacon said the Health Department has administered nearly 16,000 doses through clinics so far this season and has provided 5,000 doses to hospitals and physicians offices.
“The latest shipment of 10,000 doses will allow us to complete the first round of the school vaccination campaign,” Bacon said. “Additionally, the department is scheduling more clinics for the remainder of December and January that will include weekly vaccination locations on the west side, northern area of the county, and east side for more convenient access.”
For information on H1N1, visit the Health Department’s Web site at www.wchd.org or call 815-720-4000.
