The Macon County Health Department has received portions of their H1N1 injectable and nasal mist vaccine and will be holding clinics during the week of October 19th through the 23rd. The Macon County Health Department has received 5,400 of the 70,000 doses that have been ordered and more vaccine is expected to arrive in the weeks to come.
The Macon County Health Department has and will continue to follow the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines when deciding who will receive the H1N1 vaccine. Due to the limited quantity of vaccine, age guidelines for each manufacturer’s vaccine and the increase of influenza-like illness in children in our communities, the Macon County Health Department identified the following priority groups to receive this initial supply: children between the ages of 4 years and 18 years and health care & emergency medical service workers.
A schedule of next week’s clinics is below and specifies to whom the vaccination will be given during each clinic. If someone comes to the clinic and does not fit within these priority groups, she/he will be turned away. The vaccine will be provided to the specified groups during all of the scheduled times or until vaccine runs out. The health department will be holding additional clinics as more vaccine arrives and will re-evaluate priority groups to be served based on ACIP guidelines, the local situation, and available vaccine.
Health care workers coming in for their vaccination should bring an employee ID badge or pay stub. The H1N1 consent form and Vaccine Information Statement are online for public viewing. Those coming in for the vaccination can also print and complete these forms and bring them to the clinic to save themselves time.
All scheduled clinics below will be held at the Macon County Health Department, 1221 E. Condit Street in Decatur. Clinic dates, times, and priority groups are as follows:
• Tuesday, October 20 - 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - for health care workers and emergency medical services personnel with proper identification
• Thursday, October 22 - 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. - for health care workers and emergency medical services personnel with proper identification
• Friday, October 23 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 6 p.m. - for children age 4 to 18 years of age
The Macon County Health Department will update the public when additional vaccine arrives and more clinics are scheduled. For more information, contact the Macon County Health Department at (217) 423-6988.
