Published November 19, 2009 09:41 pm - ANDERSON — Two more public H1N1 vaccination clinics were set for December as Madison County health officials conducted their first walk-in clinic Thursday in Elwood.
More clinics set as H1N1 vaccine stock rises
By Dave Stafford, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON, Ind. — Two more public H1N1 vaccination clinics were set for December as Madison County health officials conducted their first walk-in clinic Thursday in Elwood.
In a sign that demand for the vaccine might be waning, 799 people were vaccinated during Thursday’s clinic at Elwood Community High School — only about half of the doses that had been set aside for distribution. No one was turned away, according to Madison County Health Department spokeswoman Kellie J. Kelly.
With stocks rising, the health department set two more clinics next month in Pendleton and Anderson as the number of doses on hand after Thursday’s Elwood clinic stood at about 3,800. Those vaccines will be distributed at the coming clinics and also will be provided to health care providers to give to patients.
“There are roughly 45 providers who signed up on a provider agreement to follow all the procedures necessary to administer this vaccine,” Kelly said.
An estimated 7,299 people in Madison County have been vaccinated against the disease commonly called swine flu, according to figures provided by Kelly. That includes the 799 vaccinated in Elwood; 2,000 and 1,500 respectively at drive-through clinics at Hoosier Park and the Madison County 4-H Fairgrounds in Alexandria; 2,000 first responders and 1,000 vaccinations given through obstetricians and pediatricians.
As in earlier clinics, Health Department officials have requested that priority be given to the following populations:
* Pregnant women.
* Household contacts and caregivers of those 6 months or younger.
* Children from 6 months to adults 24 years old.
* Health care and emergency care workers.
* People 25 and older with pre-existing, chronic medical conditions.
Kelly said state health officials were pleased with Madison County’s novel drive-through clinics, which she said have been heralded by the state health department as a best practice.
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com
More H1N1 clinics