Mobile County Offering H1N1 Shots

Mobile County Health Department to hold H1N1 vaccination clinics Tuesday and Wednesday at downtown clinic for people in high priority groups

The Mobile County Health Department will offer vaccinations to protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza to people in high priority groups on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 17 and 18, at its facility located at 251 N. Bayou St. The hours will be 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. There will be no charge, and appointments are not needed. Short-sleeved clothing is recommended.

Note: People wanting to make the process of getting a shot quicker can download the required consent form from www.mobilecountyhealth.org and fill it out before coming to the clinic. The Vaccine Information Statement for the 2009 inactivated H1N1 influenza vaccine is also available at that Web site.

The high priority groups include the following people:
 Pregnant women
 Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (parents, siblings and child care providers)
 Health care and emergency medical services personnel
 Persons from 6 months through 24 years of age
 Individuals aged 25 through 64 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications (such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV, and certain types of arthritis).

"We are asking healthy people 25 through 64 years old and adults 65 and older to please be considerate of these high priority groups and not seek to be vaccinated at this time when vaccine supplies are limited," says Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician:
• People who have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to chicken eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine,
• People who have had a life-threatening reaction after receiving a dose of the seasonal flu vaccine,
• People who have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and
• People who have a moderate or severe illness.

Dr. Eichold advises people to take the following precautions to prevent the spread of colds and flu:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you do not have tissue, cough and sneeze into your upper arm or sleeve.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand
sanitizers are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick, stay home to avoid spreading germs to others.

For more information, call the Health Department’s Immunization Clinic at 690-8821.