H1N1 Vaccine Arrives in Steady Supply

After a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine throughout central Illinois, doses are now being distributed by the dozens.

Today, Mclean, Fulton and Knox Counties all had clinics.

The Knox County Health Department and local healthcare providers conducted five H1N1 vaccination clinics in one day.

Unlike the previous clinics held in Illinois, vaccine supply nearly met demand.

"It'll be close," says Michele Fishburn, Director of Community Health Improvement for the Knox County Health Deparment. "It's been a very steady turn out and it will be tight."

Fishburn says that three quarters of those who received the vaccine have been children under 18 and pregnant women.

Those are among the top priority groups.

"It has been our target population that's here," Fishburn says. "I think people who have children with chronic conditions, especially pregnant women, have an appropriate level of concern when coming in."

A Galesburg mom had those concerns but believes it was best for herself and her two-year-old daughter to get the shot.

"I was willing to take that risk for a while, but as I heard more reports on deaths, serious illnesses, hospitalization, and some friends and family of ours who had to be in the hospital that I decided to come and get my daughter and I vaccinated," Jennifer Lazarz, Galesburg resident, says.

This clinic won't be the last as health officials plan to distribute the shot and FluMist throughout the flu season.

Fishburn expects a 40% immunization rate for the region.

"They tell us now that we can expect continued shipments just in smaller quantities and the hope is we can relax restrictions as far as identified priority groups and start giving them to a larger variety of people," Fishburn says.

Health Department officials say that by 11:00 Saturday morning, 1,200 people received the vaccine at the five clinics."

"The majority of the people are just very patient," nurse supervisor Linda Mckelvey says. "We had a wait about 15 to 20 minutes this morning."

Peoria County has its first of five clinics Monday afternoon next week.

It'll be in Chillicothe at IVC High School starting at four.

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