Seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines available at today’s Palace clinic

Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling said Tuesday that there is more seasonal flu vaccine available at today’s mass vaccination clinic than originally expected, along with a large supply of H1N1 vaccine.

The free clinic, which will run from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, has 1,500 units of seasonal vaccine and 3,000 units of H1N1 vaccine. Some of the vaccine is in the nasal mist form, but most of it will be administered as a shot.

An earlier clinic at the Corn Palace was limited to people in certain target vaccination groups, but today’s clinic is open to everyone.

“We’re hoping people come and take advantage of this, because it is free,” Schilling said.

Children 10 and younger who received an H1N1 vaccination at the last Corn Palace clinic are asked to come back for a booster shot today, Schilling said.

He also encouraged anyone who is on medication or has been warned against getting vaccinated to check with their doctor before coming to the clinic.

The first and only other vaccination clinic at the Corn Palace so far this flu season was Nov. 16. The clinic was scheduled to end at 7 p.m., but Schilling said the vaccine doses ran out around 6 p.m., after 1,175 were given. At that time, Schilling said, the lobby was full and there were around 100 people waiting outside.

For information about other upcoming flu vaccination clinics in South Dakota, go to http://doh.sd.gov/H1N1clinics or call 1-866-320-2740.

Tags: news, local, h1n1