H1N1 vaccine offered today, Friday

The Flathead City-County Health Department has scheduled clinics today and Friday to administer free H1N1 vaccinations.

Vaccinations are available for people 6 months to 24 years old, caregivers of infants under 6 months and people over 24 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Jody White, director of the Community Health, said the state and Centers of Disease Control have designated these populations for current supplies of vaccine.

“We don’t know yet when we will open it up to the general public,” she said.

Health officials encourage parents or guardians to bring their children 9 and under in for their second dose if they received their first dose on or before Oct. 15.

Scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. each day, the clinics take place at the health department building at 1035 First Ave. W. in Kalispell.

The department does not require prescriptions from doctors from those with chronic health disorders or any others seeking immunizations.

Health officials recommend that people get both the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine. The department has a limited amount of seasonal nasal flu vaccine for healthy children 2 to 18 years old and injectable vaccine for children 6 months to 35 months old.

Additional supplies of adult seasonal flu vaccine are expected in late November or early December.