The News-Gazette.com: H1N1 vaccinations begin in November in Vermilion County

H1N1 vaccinations begin in November in Vermilion County

By Debra Pressey

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 6:45 AM CDT

DANVILLE – The Vermilion County Health Department has received about half its order of H1N1 flu vaccine and will begin walk-in vaccination clinics next month in Danville, Hoopeston and Georgetown.

All vaccinations will be free, and appointments aren't necessary.

But parents take note: All 18,000 vaccine doses are from multidose vials that contain the mercury-based preservative thimerosal, department administrator Steve Laker said.

Thimerosal has been used in vaccines since the 1930s, but in recent years, all vaccines recommended for children in the U.S. age 6 and younger are thimerosal-free or contain only trace amounts of thimerosal, with the exception of some inactivated seasonal flu vaccine.

Since 2001, the Food and Drug Administration hasn't licensed any new vaccines containing thimerosal for young children in the U.S., but the restriction was largely a precautionary move. The FDA contends there hasn't been any convincing evidence of harm done by the small amount of thimerosal in flu vaccines.

While the amount of thimerosal in the H1N1 vaccine is minute, Laker said, parents will need to make their own decisions about getting their children vaccinated now or waiting until thimerosal-free forms of the vaccine arrive in late November or early December.

The first vaccination clinics are being held for only the most at-risk population outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

– Pregnant women, who must bring a signed authorization from their doctors to the flu shot clinics.

– Everyone age 6 months to 24 years old.

– People 25-64 with chronic conditions that leave them at higher risk for flu complications.

– People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months.

– Health care and emergency medical services workers.

Parents or guardians must accompany children 18 and younger receiving the vaccination, and breast-feeding women who meet the criteria must bring a signed consent from their doctors.

Once the priority groups have been vaccinated, the health department says it will begin offering vaccination opportunities for people age 25 to 64. People 65 and older are considered to be the least at risk from the H1N1 virus and last in line for vaccination.

The following are the times and locations for walk-in clinics:

n Nov. 3-4: 1-7 p.m., Southview Middle School gym, 133 E. Ninth St., Danville

n Nov. 7: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Vermilion County Health Department, 200 S. College St., Danville

n Nov. 9-10: 1-7 p.m., Hoopeston Civic Center, 5 McFerren Park Road

n Nov. 17-18: 1-7 p.m., Georgetown Banquet Center (fairgrounds) at 413 N. Seminary Road

n Nov. 21: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Vermilion County Health Department

n Dec. 1-2: 1-7 p.m. East Park Elementary School gym, 930 Colfax, Danville