• By Lynn Mitchell
• Posted Friday, October 16, 2009

Flu Clinic to be held on Tues., October 20th

The Forsyth County Department of Public Health will be offering H1N1 flu vaccine to selected adults and children as well as Seasonal flu vaccine to children on Tuesday, October 20 starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Health Department at 799 N. Highland Ave., Winston Salem. The vaccines will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the clinic will remain open until 8:00 p.m. as long as vaccine is available.

This week, the Health Department unexpectedly obtained 500 doses of a killed-virus injectable vaccine for the Seasonal flu which is only for children aged 6 months through 35 months. The Department also received a shipment of 1000 doses of killed-virus injectable vaccine for the H1N1 flu for individuals 6 months of age or older. The Department also has 191 doses of the live-virus nasal mist vaccine for the H1N1 flu remaining from the clinic last Tuesday.

On Tuesday, October 20, all the above described vaccines will be available selectively to individuals of the following risk groups:

Seasonal flu vaccine:
• All children aged 6 months through 35 months

H1N1 nasal mist vaccine:
• Children aged 2 years to 18 years who do not have chronic health problems

H1N1 injectable vaccine:
• Pregnant women of any age
• Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 6 months of age
• Children from 6 months through 18 years of age

Children under 10 years of age who receive their first dose of the H1N1 vaccine need a booster dose of H1N1 vaccine 4 weeks after the first dose. Those individuals who wish to have maximum protection from the flu this year are encouraged to receive H1N1 and Seasonal flu vaccines if available.

The vaccine will be provided at no charge. The Health Department will not be collecting payment or billing individuals for administration of the vaccine. However, if children have private insurance or Medicaid, their parents are asked to bring their insurance or Medicaid cards. The County will be able to bill Medicaid or the insurance company for the cost of administration and recover some of the costs of the vaccination process.

Parents are encouraged to be patient with regard to obtaining vaccine for their children, and ultimately for themselves and others who will need it. The Federal Government is assuring us that there will eventually be enough H1N1 vaccine for everyone who wishes to receive it. However, the vaccine will be distributed to communities fairly slowly over several weeks or months. Local health departments, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and others will be providing it to the public. Most individuals will be able to receive the vaccine through their own private health care providers’ offices. For those who do not have a private health care provider, the Health Department will be providing it.