Flu clinics reworked

Jackson County Health Department critiqued Thursday night’s H1N1 flu clinic and has made changes for future clinics — including the one scheduled for today.

The target group for today’s clinic is children age 6 months to 4 years and their immediate family members as well as pregnant women and their immediate family members and family members who have children younger than 6 months of age. The department is at 801 W. Second St., Seymour.

Environmentalist Paul Ramsey said Friday the procedure for today’s clinic will be that the first 400 people are guaranteed a vaccination. The first 400 people will receive a vaccination form. However, those forms will not be distributed until the starting time of 9 a.m.

The clinic is scheduled to last until 1 p.m. or until the 400 shots are given.

Ramsey also said those attending the clinic should look for signs for parking and follow directions of the parking attendants so that parking does not interfere with parking at neighboring businesses.

The health department has also increased staff for today’s clinic to try to get people through the line quicker.

The procedures for today’s clinic will be critiqued for that information to be used at future clinics.

Thursday night’s H1N1 flu clinic for people ages 4 to 24 years old and their immediate families gathered a crowd outside the health department starting at 2:30 p.m. Two hundred numbers were given out to the waiting crowd, and then another 100 were given later in the evening.

Before the doors to the clinic opened at 5 p.m., the line of people stretched along the side of the health department and past the Jackson-Jennings Co-Op building, which neighbors the department’s offices.

Future H1N1 clinics

Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 9 from 5 p.m. to 8  p.m.

Nov. 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (This clinic is to give the recommended second dose to children who were inoculated at the Oct. 20 clinic. The CDC recommends a second dose for children younger than the age of 10. All other children between the ages of 2 to 4 may also attend.)

Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Children’s Seasonal Flu Clinic

What: Annual children’s seasonal flu clinic for children 6 months to 18 years

Who: Jackson County Health Department

When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 13 or while vaccine lasts

Cost: $5 administration fee unless Medicaid eligible

Where: Jackson County Health Department, 801 W. Second St., Seymour

Appointments are not necessary.