County to make seasonal flu shots available Nov. 18

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 10 November 2009 13:26

The Marion County Health Department, 230 E. Main, Marion, will give seasonal flu shots from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18, while supplies last.

H1N1 vaccinations are available by appointment only to priority groups, while supplies last, said Diedre Serene, director.

Those groups include pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants less than 6 months old (parents, siblings and daycare providers) and healthcare and emergency medical service personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material.

Other priority groups are children ages 6 months through 4 and youth ages 5 through 18 with medical conditions that put them at risk for influenza-related complications.

Medical conditions that confer a higher risk for influenza-related complications include chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus) or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus).

“If you or your child falls into one of these categories, call the health department at 620-382-2550 or 800-305-8848 and schedule your appointment,” Serene said.

In addition, the Marion County Health Department will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day, she said.