H1N1 Vaccine in County Clinics Today

H1N1 vaccine now available at county clinics and some schools

County Health Departments will begin administering the H1N1 vaccine this week . But as MPB's Patty Davis reports, the limited supply will go to those at highest risk for complications from the flu.

The State Health Department says the H1N1 flu vaccine will be available at every county health dept starting today. But until additional shipments arrive priority cases will still be first in line. They include healthcare workers, pregnant women, children 5 months to 4 yrs old, and those that live or work with infants under six months. Emergency room nurse Chandra Wilson got her shot saying it wasn't only for her protection.

Wilson: I'm just trying to take preventive measures. Because I want to protect myself as well as my small child from becoming exposed to the H1N1.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Mary Currier says enough vaccine has arrived in the state to also start vaccinations at schools. But with half a million K-12 students, she says it may take several weeks.

Currier: The way we're choosing schools, the district health departments, the nine districts are actually working with the schools to figure out what's the best time this coming month and the following months, to get vaccine. They are looking at size of the school and actually whether or not the school wants it. Some schools are declining to get vaccinated. And those kids will just go to their private provider or to the health department.

But, until more vaccine shipments arrive, private providers may also have to wait.

Currier: We've got over a thousand providers that want vaccine, and we're not anywhere close to filling all those orders. So we're still working on that.

There have been over 12 hundred confirmed cases of H1N1 in Mississippi with nine confirmed deaths. Another 6 flu related deaths cannot be confirmed as H1N1.