The Chattooga County Health Department has received injectable H1N1 vaccine according to the Health Department Manager, Mitzi Smith, and they will conduct a vaccination clinic Thursday, November 5 (today). This will be on a walk-in basis for priority, high-risk individuals Thursday from 8am until 11:30am and from 1pm until 7:30pm at the health department, 60 Farrar Drive. After Thursday’s initial clinic, the health department will offer the H1N1 flu shots on a walk-in basis on Thursdays from 8am until 11:30am and from 1pm until 5:30pm when the vaccine is available.
Smith said the health department will be making public announcements through local news media about the H1N1 vaccine availability and that people can call the health department at 706-857-3471 to check on the H1N1 vaccine availability.
According to Smith, priority individuals, as recommended by the CDC, are:
- pregnant women,
- care givers of infants less than 6 months of age,
- children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years,
- persons aged 25 – 64 years who have medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease and immunosuppressive disorders that put them at risk and
- health care and emergency medical service workers.
According to Smith, the vaccine is free; however, clients are asked to please bring their private insurance, Medicare, Medicare supplements, PeachCare or Medicaid cards as a small administration fee may be charged to their insurance. "No client will be billed or expected to pay," Smith expresses and adds "clients with no insurance will not be charged or expected to pay."
Smith says, and reiterates that "eventually we expect to have plenty of the H1N1 vaccine, enough so everyone who wants it can get it."