H1N1 vaccine clinic set Monday

As expected, local officials decided Tuesday at City Hall to conduct a mass H1N1 flu vaccination clinic next week at the Corn Palace.

The free clinic will be from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

Vaccinations will be offered only to pregnant women, individuals between the ages of six months and 24 years of age, adults 25 to 64 years of age with chronic health conditions (asthma, diabetes, neuromuscular diseases, renal disease or cardiovascular disease), caregivers of children less than six months of age, and health-care and emergency medical services workers.

Officials from Avera Queen of Peace Health Services and the Mitchell Area Point of Distribution Committee hope to do 900 vaccinations, but that number is only an estimate due to the uncertain supply of vaccine.

“We’re kind of just rolling with the flow because we do know that it’s a very fluid situation right now,” said Vicki Lehrman, compliance and safety executive for Avera Queen of Peace. “We don’t know what we’re going to get.”

Avera was originally scheduled to get 1,100 doses of the H1N1 vaccine for the Corn Palace clinic. On Tuesday morning, Lehrman learned from the state that only 860 will be shipped. How many will be in the form of injectable vaccine or nasal spray is unknown.

While health-care and medical-services workers are required to bring identification badges to receive a vaccination, no documentation of other employment or health conditions will be required.

Main Street will be closed for the event between Fifth and Sixth streets from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If a qualified individual has had a previous case of H1N1 confirmed by the state, that individual does not need the vaccine; however, those who have had unconfirmed cases are recommended to take the vaccine.

The effort currently has about 45 volunteers.

Nearly half of them are nurses, and Lehrman said 20 additional volunteers are being sought. The hunt is also on for a doctor to assist with vaccinations from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Deb Haak, regional manager for the South Dakota Department of Health, said another POD vaccination clinic for the general public could be held in December.

Tags: news, local, h1n1