‘Second dose’ H1N1 clinics starting
About 6,000 children 9 years old and younger need to come back for their second dose of the H1N1 vaccine. Therefore, the Lee County Health Department will host four additional H1N1 vaccination clinics for those children and any remaining individuals in the priority groups.
“The response from families bringing their children has been very positive. However, we don’t want parents to forget those kids 9 years old and younger need that second dose of vaccine in order to be thoroughly immunized,” said Judith A. Hartner, M.D., M.P.H., M.P.A., director of the Lee County Health Department, in a prepared statement.
According to the CDC guidelines, the booster H1N1 vaccination should be about 28 days after the first dose; therefore, for the clinics being hosted this week the child should have been originally vaccinated on or before Nov. 7.
H1N1 vaccinations will occur:
– Thursday, De. 3: Mariner High School from 4 – 9:00 p.m., 701 Chiquita Blvd. Cape Coral
– Saturday, Dec. 5: Ft. Myers High School from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., 2635 Cortez Blvd. Fort Myers
– Monday, Dec 7: Lehigh Senior High School from 4 – 9 p.m., 901 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres
– Saturday, Dec. 12: Estero High School from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. , 21900 River Ranch Road, Estero
Due to the limited H1N1 vaccine supply, only children needing a second dose and those in the priority groups will receive the vaccine. Even if parents haven’t gotten their children the initial H1N1 dose, still come to a clinic and the second dose will be available in January through the Lee County Health Department, officials said.
The priority groups include:
-Pregnant women
-Children and young adults age 6 months through 24 years
-People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old
-Health care workers and emergency medical services personnel
-People age 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza
Always remember before departing for any clinic site, to verify the date and time as the schedule is subject to change based on availability of vaccine. To verify clinic information, log onto the Lee County Health Department website at www.LeeCHD.com