Newberg Graphic Online

County offers first H1N1 vaccine clinic

Appointments available starting today

• Published: 11/4/2009 10:05:54 AM
• Last Updated: 11/4/2009 10:06:55 AM

Yamhill County Public Health’s first H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination clinic opens today (Wednesday), the department announced late Tuesday. Vaccinations will be given to members of certain priority groups by appointment only.
 
Targeted by this clinic will be children ages 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, and those caring for or living with children under 6 months old. Individuals in the other priority groups – which include people through age 23 and adults with underlying health conditions (particularly asthma, heart disease and HIV) – are not being served at the clinic at this time.
 
Students at most public schools in the county are also beginning to be inoculated this week (day cares and small private schools have already been targeted). After school, some public schools will offer the vaccine to pregnant women and children not enrolled elsewhere (including home-schooled and pre-school children).
 
The vaccines are free to the public and come in pre-packaged half-doses for young children. A limited amount is available at this time.
 
The Oregon Department of Human Services announced Tuesday that another shipment of vaccine should arrive in Oregon by Friday, expected to bring the total amount received by the state to about 327,700 doses – enough to vaccinate 16.7 percent of those in the priority groups. Oregon has currently received enough for about 6 percent of the priority groups.
 
For more information on the Yamhill County clinic or to schedule an appointment, call 503-554-7842. For more information on flu in Oregon, visit www.flu.oregon.gov or call 1-800-978-3040.

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