The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Flu Watch

Discussion

November 9, 2009

County, city health departments schedule next H1N1 vaccine clinic

By Scott Meeker

smeeker@joplinglobe.com

While the last H1N1 vaccination clinic saw several hundred doses delivered via nasal spray, the next event promises to be more of a shot in the arm.

The Joplin Health Department will team with the Jasper County Health Department for another clinic from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Access Family Care, 530 Maiden Lane.

The vaccine — to be given as an injection — will be available at no charge but limited to groups that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined have the highest risk for contracting the H1N1 virus. They are pregnant women; people younger than 64 who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old; children ages 6 months to 4 years; children 5 to 18 who have a chronic medical condition; and those working in the health care field who have direct patient care.

Dan Pekarek, director of the Joplin Health Department, said about 300 doses of the vaccine were given out during last week’s clinic. For the upcoming clinic, he said about 500 doses should be available.

“Because of the fact that we don’t have large amounts of the vaccine, we’re still doing it on a call-in basis (to schedule an appointment),” he said. “That way we don’t have to worry about running out.”

Vaccines offered during the clinics are compiled by the city and county health departments from what is allocated by the state. The first priority for the departments has been getting the vaccine to providers who see high-risk patients. After that, vaccine that is left is used for the public events.

“Our phones have still been ringing pretty steadily,” said Tony Moehr, administrator of the Jasper County Health Department, of the public demand for the vaccine. “I feel like (the upcoming clinic) will fill up without a problem.”

Moehr said health departments go by what type of vaccine is available to them at a particular time, which is why the clinic on Nov. 17 will offer the injectable variety rather than the nasal spray.

He said about 13,500 doses of the vaccine have been ordered so far for Jasper County, and those requested vaccines are “trickling in.”

Pekarek said Joplin is a medical hub for the region — with two big hospitals and numerous doctors and other medical providers located here — so the need for vaccines for health care and medical services personnel has been great.

“I’m hopeful that in the next couple of weeks, we can start to schedule these quasi-public clinics with more frequency,” he said. “If you look across state lines at other locations that are holding public clinics for these highest-risk groups, they’re starting to see an ease in the need for them.”

Moehr said he hopes the county can soon open H1N1 vaccination clinics to more than just the highest-risk populations.

“After this clinic, we’ll have to reassess the situation,” he said. “I’m hoping we can go to the broader definition of ‘at risk,’ which is all children ages 6 months to 18 years, and those ages 18 to 64 who have chronic conditions such as asthma, kidney disease or anything that would render someone less likely to recover from a severe illness like this.”

Moehr said Missouri is still showing signs that the H1N1 virus is in full swing. He said that based on the latest figures released by the state a week ago, nearly 10 percent of hospital visits were by patients showing signs of an influenza-like illness.





Clinic details

The next H1N1 vaccination clinic will be from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Access Family Care, 530 Maiden Lane. To schedule an appointment or find out if they qualify for the vaccine, people may call 417-358-3111 or 877-879-9131. Information is available via www.jascoflu.com.

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