Sunday, October 18, 2009 | Contact: Jerome Garner, Health Education Specialist 252-459-1547
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/health-department-open-for-h1n1-shot-905649.html
Health Department open for H1N1 shot
By Geoffrey Cooper | Rocky Mount Telegram | Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Nash County Health Department now is offering a new type of vaccination for treatment against the H1N1 virus.
An injectable form of the H1N1 virus vaccination is available this week at county health offices. Health officials did not specify how many doses they received in this form.
The county health department received more than 500 doses of the vaccination earlier this month, with the first batch coming in the form of the nasal spray — FluMist. That treatment only was geared toward children and young adults ages 2 to 24 years old and healthy residents under 50 years old who live with or take care of children under the age of 6 months.
The shot now is open up for pregnant women or children under 2 years old. It also will target residents who are between 25 years old and 64 years old with high risk conditions.
Residents can receive the free H1N1 virus vaccinations from 2 to 6 p.m. today, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the county health department in Nashville. Residents also can receive treatment 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the Rocky Mount office at 322 S. Franklin St.
Health officials maintain that a regular seasonal flu shot alone will not provide immunity from the H1N1 virus. They still are encouraging residents to receive both regular flu shots and the H1N1 vaccination.
There are no costs for both forms of the H1N1 vaccine, and they are covered by the federal government. Regular flu shots for county residents are $32 from the health department and free to residents with Medicare.
These are walk-in clinics and do not require an appointment. For more information regarding the H1N1 vaccination, residents can contact the health department at 459-9819.
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