Flu clinics open to everyone

Local News

Discussion

December 10, 2009

STAFF REPORT The Commercial-News Thu Dec 10, 2009, 10:45 AM CST

DANVILLE — Vermilion County Health Department is opening its H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics to the general public.

“We have been waiting for this opportunity to provide H1N1 vaccinations to the general public for some time,” says public health administrator Steve Laker in a press release. “We know there is some pent up demand for vaccinations among the portions of the population not included in the original priority groups, so we are pleased to be able to open our clinics to everyone.”

The Vermilion County Health Department will have an open vaccination clinic for anyone wanting an H1N1 vaccination from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. to noon Thursday at its main facility, 200 S. College St.

The health department has given more than 6,000 vaccinations, and all of the health department’s clinics until now were focused on the high priority groups identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health as being those individuals most at risk to the complications of the H1N1 novel influenza virus, including pregnant women, children, and people under age 64 with underlying health conditions.

“After 12 clinics focused on the priority groups, we feel we have reached a good portion of those targeted, at-risk individuals, so it is certainly time to get the clinics opened up to the rest of the population,” Laker said in the release. “We think it is especially important to get as many people vaccinated right now as possible, while the number of influenza-like illnesses are on the decline.”

According to the CDC, the number of states reporting widespread influenza has declined to 25; nationally, the number of visits to doctors and hospitalizations due to influenza-like illness continues to decline, as do the number of deaths. However, public health officials say they expect to see a third wave of the H1N1 virus to appear sometime after the first of the year.

There is no charge for the H1N1 vaccination by the health department. Physicians and pharmacies are expected to begin offering H1N1 vaccinations soon; they will be able to charge a fee.

Additional clinics at the health department will be announced soon, based on demand for the vaccine. For information, visit its Web site at http://www.vchd.org.

Text Only

Local News

Spirit of the West
Museum workers run out of adjectives when describing the “Spirit of the West” quilt exhibit, which opens Friday. “It’s mind boggling,” Sue Richer, director of the Vermilion County Museum, said as she admired the quilts. “It amazes me. They’re works of art, the way they’re put together.”

May 29, 2012 1 Photo
County looks at power deal
Vermilion County Board committee members will discuss a contract letting Integrys extend electric savings to residents now.

May 29, 2012
Six to retire from Danville High
Six longtime District 118 employees said goodbye to Danville High School at the end of the school year.

May 29, 2012 1 Photo
Teacher’s aide retires after 33 years
Jan Kovacic meets the students at Covington Elementary School when they arrive in the morning, and she is the last one they see in the afternoon when getting on a bus or in a car.

May 29, 2012
Fountain OKs nurse position
Fountain County Council members approved restructuring changes Tuesday in the Fountain-Warren Health Department.

May 29, 2012
United Way close to goal
The United Way of Danville Area is in the home stretch of its annual campaign and wants residents’ help in reaching that goal.

May 29, 2012
City rummage sale nears
May 29, 2012
Home tour helps museum
May 29, 2012
Police, Fire Reports
May 29, 2012
Teacher weaves life skills in with lessons
KaSandra Mitchell’s fifth-graders probably think all the cooking and sewing they do in class is a lot of fun.

May 29, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Flu clinics open to everyone

Site Map

Contact Us