H1N1 vaccine offered at clinic on Wednesday

The Flathead City-County Health Department will offer free H1N1 influenza vaccinations at the Flathead County Fairgrounds from 2 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The H1N1 clinic will be in the Trade Center building at the north end of the fairgrounds, according to a news release from the health department.

Available vaccine will include a limited supply of live virus nasal spray and injectable vaccine. Vaccinations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Those eligible for the vaccine include:

n Children 6 months through 19 years old.

n Caregivers of children under 6 months old.

n People over 19 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. Adults with high-risk medical conditions need to bring a prescription from a health-care provider specifying the need for the vaccine. Orders also may be faxed to the Health Department at 751-8102 before noon on Nov. 4.

Eventually, as more vaccine becomes available, healthy adults will be eligible for vaccinations.

The following people should not receive the nasal spray:

n People who have received nasal spray or other live attenuated vaccine, including the MMR vaccination, within the past four weeks.

n Children under 2.

n People who are immune-compromised.

n People with severe allergy to eggs.

n People with chronic health problems such as heart or lung disease, asthma, kidney or liver disease, metabolic disease such as diabetes, or anemia and other blood disorders.

n People with certain muscle or nerve disorders such as cerebral palsy,

n People in close contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system.

n Children on long-term aspirin treatment.

Consent forms are available on the Health Department Web site, www.flatheadhealth.org.

People are encouraged to download and complete the consent form and bring it to Wednesday's clinic.

Parents who are unable to accompany their children should send signed consent forms from the parent or guardian. However, the child must be accompanied by a responsible adult with knowledge of the child's medical history and the parent or guardian must be available by phone for nurse consultation while the child is at the clinic.

All H1N1 influenza vaccinations are free from the health department. Health officials recommend getting both the seasonal influenza vaccine and the H1N1 influenza vaccine.

Log on to the health department's Web site listed above or call the flu hotline at 751-8188 for any additional information.

Due to the H1N1 clinic, the normal Wednesday immunization clinic at the health department will be held from 8 a.m. to noon.