- The Washoe County Health Department has announced it will conducttwo additional H1N1 flu vaccination clinics next weekend.
The clinics come in the wake of three similar clinics conducted last week, in which approximately 3,000 people were vaccinated against the virus.
The clinics are schelduled forthis Saturday, November 7, and areonly for those considered high-risk.
In response tocommunity feedback,Washoe County Health District Spokeswoman Judy Davis saysthe clinics are divided into two time slots this Saturday:
Clinic No. 1 is from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and is reserved for healthcare provider office workers only. The health district says this is due to the potential source of infection for vulnerable patients.
Clinic No. 2 is from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is for anyone considered high-risk. Health officials say this clinic is targeted primarily to those whose school or work schedules make it difficult to attend a weekly clinic.
All participants must receive a color-coded wristband for Saturday's Clinic No. 2.
Officialswill begin handing out wristbands at the Washoe County Health District on Friday, November 6, at 7 a.m.
All bands will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. The district says they are expecting to hand out 1,300 wristbands. OnlyH1N1 flu vaccinations will be available at these clinics--vaccinations for seasonal flu will not be available. The novel H1N1 flu vaccine will be available in two forms:
Nasal spray - For only those who are healthy, non-pregnant and between the ages of 24 months through 49 years
Shot - For anyone age six months of age and older
Officials emphasize wristbands and forms will not be handed out Saturday. Parents or caretakers can pick-up wristbands and paperwork for those in the high-risk group if they intend to bring the child/children/participant in Saturday.
For more information, click here: http://www.co.washoe.nv.us/health/
Meanwhile the Southern Nevada Health District has scheduled two swine flu immunization clinics for this Saturday.
The clinics will happen between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the health district's main location and its Henderson public health center.
Both the injectable and inhaled forms of the H1N1 vaccine will be available to those who are in one of several priority groups.
The vaccine is free. As of Oct. 29, the health district had received 69,600 doses of
vaccine. It has administered more than 28,000 doses.
High-risk groups include:
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
- Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants younger than 6 months old might help protect infants by "cocooning" them from the virus;
- All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
- Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in children who are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
- Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because many cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,
- Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions (for example, asthma or diabetes) associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
Those attending the high-risk novel H1N1 flu vaccination clinic will be asked to complete and sign a form certifying that they are in a high-risk group. Adults need to bring a photo ID to verify their age.
