More H1N1 clinics scheduled

LISBON - The Columbiana County Health Department announced more H1N1 clinics for this week in its efforts to immunize all residents in the Tier One groups who want vaccinated against the swine flu virus.

Tier One groups include anyone age 6 months to 24 years old, anyone ages 25 to 64 years old with a chronic medical condition, all people who live with or care for children less than 6 months old, pregnant women with a doctor's referral and medical care professionals.

The clinics will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Upper Room Fellowship Hall, 500 Sponseller Road, Columbiana, from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday at the St. Clair Township building, Pugh Road, Calcutta, and from noon to 6 p.m. Friday at Trinity Friends

Church Hall, 33937 U.S. Route 30, Lisbon.

Vaccine registration forms must be completed to receive the vaccine, with all people encouraged to complete the form online at www.ohio.gov to ensure an efficient clinic.

County Health Commissioner Wesley Vins said they're in the final stage of immunizing residents in Tier One groups, but no one has determined when the vaccine will be made available to everyone who wants it, regardless of age or health status. State and federal officials will look at the situation and make that decision, he said.

He stressed that it's still early, with the flu season typically peaking in January and February, then fizzling out in March.

"We need to stay vigilant with our efforts to address influenza-like illnesses. Continue to wash our hands, cover our mouth if we cough, stay home from work and stay home from school (if ill)," Vins said.

Health officials are becoming concerned that with H1N1 so prevalent in the news for such a long time that people may become complacent. He said they still need to take the proper precautions.

Once the health department receives the go-ahead from the state, clinics will be scheduled for the rest of the population. Vins said they're hoping doctor's offices will be able to start receiving the vaccine, which the county has been receiving at no cost from the federal government.

He also said they've been told to expect more vaccine for the seasonal flu. When they do, he said they'll announce clinic times and dates.

As for the schools, the health department reached its goal of having students in area schools they agreed to do immunized by the end of the month.

"We had very few complications with the process," he said, noting the school districts did a good job of setting up their plans.

Vins estimated they administered more than 4,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine to students, which represents 15 percent to 40 percent of the student population, depending on the school district.

They had anticipated a 50 percent participation rate. When asked why he thought there was such a low response, he said there could be lots of reasons, but he thought maybe the anxiety over the virus had diminished because it didn't became as severe as people thought it might. He was quick to point out there have been some serious illnesses, including deaths across the country.

According to information received last week, the death of a Columbiana kindergarten teacher was being attributed to complications from H1N1. Vins said the death wasn't reportable to Columbiana County since it occurred in a hospital in another county. Confirmed cases of H1N1 illness are only required to be reported to the health department when a person is hospitalized in the county.

Vins said more than 200 students who didn't receive the vaccine at area schools have come to the health department headquarters in Lisbon to receive the free immunization. He said anyone in the Tier One groups can come to the health department on state Route 45 from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. during the week if they can't make it to any of the clinics.

Vins had nothing but praise for his staff for the way everyone's pitched in during the clinics to keep the department headquarters running smoothly. During the clinics, the nursing staff has had assistance from the Salem Area Visiting Nurses and Callos Medical Services.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net