Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The Sedgwick County Health Department’s H1N1 Vaccine Clinic at 4031 E. Harry in Wichita remains open for the third week, offering FREE H1N1 vaccines.

Please find clinic hours of operation for this week:

Tuesday: 2 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday: CLOSED FOR VETERANS DAY
Thursday: 2 to 7 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

These hours will be maintained unless the vaccine supply runs out.

The clinic has revised who it will serve starting Thursday, November 12 to include the following groups:

• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• Pregnant women
• Persons age six months through 24 years
• Household contacts and caregivers of infants younger than six months of age
• People age 25 through 64 years who have chronic medical conditions or compromised immune systems

The Health Department also is offering H1N1 vaccinations through mobile clinics. These clinics will serve the same individuals as the East Harry Vaccine Clinic. There will be one mobile clinic operating on Thursday, November 12. The clinic will be located at the Mulvane - First Baptist Church, 1020 N 2nd St. The mobile clinic will be open from 1:30 to 4 p.m. These
hours will be maintained unless the vaccine supply runs out.

School-based clinics also will be held in four Sedgwick County elementary schools this week.

The Health Department will be expanding the school-based clinic portion of the H1N1 Response in the coming weeks, as vaccine comes into the community more regularly. Check with your student’s school to find out if they will be hosting a clinic. If you would like your student to be
vaccinated at school, be sure to return the consent form as soon as possible.

The Health Department will be monitoring the supply and demand of the vaccine and will adjust target groups and hours of operation as needed. Again, the Health Department asks that if you are not in one of the groups listed, please observe the guidelines provided and do not show up to the vaccine clinics this week. Sedgwick County has received just over 37,500 total doses.

Individuals with flu-like symptoms should not come to the vaccine clinic. People exhibiting flu-like symptoms (fever greater than 100 degrees, coughing, respiratory congestion or body aches) will be screened out, as you are not able to receive vaccine if you currently have the flu.

Aside from being turned away, individuals who have flu-like symptoms run the risk of infecting others with the flu.

Sedgwick County Health Department has set up a call center to give up-to-date information about H1N1, the clinic and priority groups. Individuals with questions can call 660-5558 or e-mail flu@sedgwick.gov.