H1N1 shots arrive

County health department administers vaccine to high risk groups

Published Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Tallapoosa County Health Department used about half of its first shipment of H1N1 influenza vaccinations during a walk-in clinic on Wednesday.

The health department received 500 doses on Tuesday and vaccinated 225 priority individuals during walk-in clinics in Alexander City and Dadeville. Debbie Thompson, nurse supervisor for the health departments of Tallapoosa and Coosa counties, said they will decide early next week how to distribute the rest of the free vaccines.

“I haven’t decided at this point what I’m going to do,” Thompson said. “Probably what we’re going to do is schedule appointments.”

Although the state and the nation are experiencing delays in receiving H1N1 vaccines, Thompson does expect to receive more shipments sometime in the future.

“I’m anticipating we’ll get more H1N1 shots in the next few weeks and we’ll do this again,” Thompson said. “We’ve been told the whole time we’re going to get enough to offer to anyone who wants it in the county.”

The health department still plans to give the shots to schoolchildren whose parents have given written consent, but the vaccinations likely will not take place until late November or early December.

Priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine are pregnant women; children 6 months through 4 years old; parents, siblings and caregivers of children less than 6 months old; children 5 to 18 years old who have underlying medical conditions; and health care workers.

The delay in vaccine for the H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, has affected the entire state and nation.

The Alabama Department of Public Health distributed its first shipment of 55,000 doses to each county based on population with no county receiving less than 100 doses.

“We must target our limited amounts of vaccine to individuals at the highest risk because of the uncertainties in supply we face,” state health officer Dr. Donald Williamson said in a statement on Tuesday.

Alexander City’s health department is located at 2078 Sportplex Boulevard (329-0531) and the Dadeville office is located at 220 West Lafayette Street (825-9203).

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