County To Use Old School For Mass H1N1 Inoculations
IPS School No. 11 To Be Transformed
Posted: 10/01/2009
Last Updated:
1328 days ago
Marion County officials expect the H1N1 flu vaccine to be administered to almost half the county's residents, but those not in a priority group will be turned away.Indianapolis Public School No. 11 has been vacant for quite some time, but the building will see new life in the coming weeks as the first H1N1 community flu vaccine center, 6News' Stacia Matthews reported.
Special Section:
H1N1 Flu
Marion County health officials expect about 3,500 doses of the nasal H1N1 vaccine sometime next month.The initial supply will be divided among hospitals for employees who have direct contact with patients, including includes emergency room, critical care and pediatric ICU workers.Hospitals also will begin enforcing stricter visitation policies in an effort to keep the bug from coming into facilities and being passed on to sick patients.Small shipments of the vaccine should begin coming into the county in the following weeks. About 100,000 doses of the spray and shot should arrive to be administered at the school.About half the people who reside in Marion County are considered within a priority group, including pregnant women, people from 6 months old to age 24 and those with chronic medical conditions."If you're not in one of those priority groups or at-risk groups (you will be turned away)," said Dr. Virginia Caine, of the Marion County Health Department. "It's so important to get the at-risk groups first. They're the ones at highest risk for severe complications.""All of us will be asked to take greater responsibility for our own health," said Mayor Greg Ballard. "That includes staying home from work when you feel the flu-like symptoms and staying home with sick children."Of the at-risk group, pregnant women will not be given the nasal spray, but must wait for the injected vaccine.When the shipments arrive, health officials said the school will have the capacity to inoculate one person per minute.Starting Monday, the state health department will offer a hot line for the public to call for information on the H1N1 flu and its vaccine. That number is 1-877-826-0011. It will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.
More Information: Indiana State Department of Health Flu Information
