Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 1:48 p.m.
Read more: Local, State, Health, H1N1, Lee County, Shot, Clinic
FT. MADISON, IOWA -- The following is a news release from the Lee County Iowa Health Department;
Due to the very limited amount of H1N1 vaccines/nasal mist received, Lee County Health Department has scheduled two small public health clinics to administer H1N1 vaccines/nasal mist to the following high risk priority groups as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
Pregnant Women
Persons living with or providing care for infants less than six months of age
Children ages 6 months of age through four years of age
Health care workers and emergency services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material
Currently Lee County Health Department has 240 doses for the Wednesday clinic in Keokuk, and 240 doses for the Friday clinic in Fort Madison. Clinic locations and times are:
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in Keokuk Friday, October 23, 2009 in Fort Madison
Crossview Fellowship Church-The Edge Center St. Mary/St. Joseph’s McAleer Hall
1807 High Street 1111 Avenue E
Keokuk, Iowa 4 pm-6 pm Fort Madison, Iowa 4 pm-6 pm
Only those who can sign a statement verifying they or their children are in one of the high risk priority groups listed above will be able to receive the vaccine during these clinics. Individuals who are ill with flu-like symptoms are asked not to come to the clinics as vaccine can not be administered to ill individuals nor do we want to risk spreading your illness to others. Once 240 doses at each site are administered, the clinics will close.
The state determines the amount of vaccine that Lee County receives. More clinics will be scheduled when enough vaccine is received to hold a clinic. Lee County Health Department plans to schedule clinics over several weeks into the winter months since the vaccine shipments are staggered.
Lee County Health Department would like to thank the public for being patient and understanding that those at highest risk and most vulnerable for H1N1 influenza receive the vaccine first. Also please remember that practicing the following steps can help prevent and spread the seasonal and H1N1 flu:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or with your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissues promptly.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Clean your hands with soap and water, or use a hand sanitizing gel when water is not available.
Clean surfaces. Make sure all surfaces touched by you and others are cleaned regularly.
Contain germs by staying home when sick. Don’t go to school, work, shopping or other outside activities while you are sick. Stay home until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Do not share food or drinks.
Remind your children to practice healthy habits.
A statewide toll-free hotline has been established for public questions about seasonal and H1N1 influenza at 1-800-447-1985. More information can also be found at www.idph.state.ia.us.
