H1N1 clinics continue

Levittown - MOUNT HOLLY - The Burlington County Health Department is continuing its H1N1 vaccination program with a clinic today for those in special priority groups.

The clinic will be held at the department building at 15 Pioneer Blvd., off Woodlane Road in Westampton, from 2 to 4 p.m.

It is specifically for children 6 months to 5 years old, pregnant women and caregivers of children who are 6 months or younger. Children who receive the shot will need to return Dec. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. for a second dose, officials said.

The clinic is the third of its kind since the county received its first doses of the swine flu vaccine last month. Previously the county held clinics for pregnant women and first responders.

More clinics will be held Nov. 13 for health care workers with direct patient contact, 18- to 24-year-olds and those 24 to 65 with underlying conditions. A clinic on Nov. 20 will be held for all the priority groups.

Health officials ask those not in the priority groups to wait until additional doses are available to get vaccinated.

In recent weeks the health department also has vaccinated thousands of the county's school-age children, spokeswoman Loretta O'Donnell said. Students in Moorestown, Mount Holly, Mount Laurel, Palmyra, Pemberton, Riverton and Shamong have been inoculated against the widespread virus.

Students at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly were vaccinated Monday, about a week after a 17-year-old sophomore there died suddenly of complications from the H1N1 virus.

O'Donnell said almost all of the county's public school districts have scheduled in-school clinics to make the vaccine easily available to students. Parents must give permission for their children to be inoculated.

Flulike symptoms also have caused spikes in absenteeism throughout county schools in recent weeks. Despite the death of the R.V. student, health officials have said most of the reported cases of H1N1 in the county have been mild, with patients making full recoveries.

For more information about H1N1 and the vaccine, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

Contact: dcamilli@phillyBurbs.comor 609-267-7586

MORE FROM PHILLYBURBS.COM

PhillyBurbs.com Section Front

test   Phils fans collecting donations for Kalas statue   Obama to discuss jobs, economy in Pennsylvania   Arraignment for ex-NJ mayor in corruption case   1 dead, 1 wounded in NJ shooting PhillyBurbs.com Section Front   Add PhillyBurbs.com headlines to your news reader: