By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
Health departments operated by Joplin and Jasper County governments, along with Access Family Care, will team up to offer their first H1N1 flu vaccine clinic next week, officials said Tuesday.
The clinic will be offered from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Access Family Care, 530 Maiden Lane, in Joplin.
The vaccine will be available to those who fit in the “priority groups” recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49.
Healthy people living with or caring for infants younger than 6 months of age.
Health care or emergency medical personnel.
Tony Moehr, administrator of the Jasper County Health Department, said the departments have a limited number of nasal spray doses available. He estimated that between 400 and 500 doses would be available at the clinic.
Appointments will be required.
People can be vaccinated against H1N1 flu by either a nasal spray or a flu shot. Only the former will be available at next week’s clinic.
“Frankly, that is what we have available,” Moehr said of the spray, which is more readily available now than the injection form. He said the nasal spray is effective for the priority groups.
Depending on the supply, more local H1N1 vaccine clinics could be offered in the future, he said.
Next week’s clinic is the first public H1N1 clinic offered through the health agencies in Joplin and Jasper County. Moehr said similar clinics have been offered in neighboring Newton County, and in Oklahoma and Kansas.
Don McBride, chief executive officer of Access Family Care, said, “Part of our mission is to work closely with all the (local) health departments.”
He said the Access Family Care center in Joplin offers a good, accessible location.
Access Family Care will charge a $5 administration fee for next week’s H1N1 vaccine. Both Medicare and Medicaid will be billed for the vaccine administration.
According to a release from the Jasper County Health Department, certain people should not receive the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine:
Children under the age of 2.
Pregnant women.
People 50 and older.
People with a medical condition that “places them at higher risk for complications from influenza,” such as people with chronic heart or lung disease.
Children under age 5 with a history of recurrent wheezing.
Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy.
People who have suffered from the rare nervous system disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeks of receiving the vaccine.
People who are severely allergic to chicken eggs or allergic to any nasal spray vaccine components.
Appointments
To make an appointment or find out about vaccine availability next week, people may call 417-358-3111 or toll-free at 877-879-9131.
