Public swine flu clinics scheduled in Lane County
By KVAL.com StaffEUGENE, Ore. – Lane County public health officials have tentatively scheduled a series of free public swine flu vaccine clinics. A county spokeswoman says anyone can walk into the clinics, although they are tentative based on vaccine availability. Public health officials think the H1N1 flu will continue to spread in Lane County for months to come. They say pandemic influenza like this one often comes in waves. | See the Lane County clinic schedule "Even if you don't get vaccinated right away, there is still value in getting one eventually," says Dr. Mel Kohn, director of the Oregon Public Health Division. "It's likely that H1N1 will continue into the spring, so it's not too late to get protection." Statewide, the vaccine is still slow to arrive. Department of Human Services officials report we have only received about six percent of the vaccine necessary for people in the “priority” groups, who account for about half of Oregon’s population. "We know that there isn't enough H1N1 vaccine for everyone right now," says Dr. Kohn. "We want those at the highest risk to go to the front of the line." Five private companies are making the vaccine in the U.S. The state then distributes them to counties on a per-capita basis. Since Sept. 1, 2009, 482 people in 24 counties have been hospitalized in Oregon with influenza-like illness; 15 people in eight counties have died, according Oregon Public Health. Lane County Public Vaccine Clinic Schedule: Saturday, October 31 Monday, November 2 Saturday, November 7 Saturday, November 14 For more information, you can call the Lane County Public Health flu line at 682-4181. The state also has an H1N1 hotline at 1-800-978-3040. The hotline is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
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