They had the vaccine, they had the staff and they had people waiting in line, so Jackson County Health Department Director Jim Kelly didn’t see a reason for Jackson County residents to wait any longer for the H1N1 flu vaccine.
He opened the doors to the county’s flu clinic early. The clinic was scheduled to run from 2 to 7:30 p.m., or when the vaccine ran out.
Kelly was going up and down the line talking with the crowd while helping them fill out the required paperwork. Not everyone who wanted a vaccination was able to recive one. The health department is following the guidelines established by the Center for Disease Control, so not everyone qualifies for a shot. The health department is providing vaccinations for the priority groups the CDC had identified.
Pregnant women, caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency workers, anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age, persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza are all recommended to receive the vaccine.
The health department has both forms of the vaccine, as an injection or the flu mist.
“It’s all a matter of having vaccine available to do this,” said Kelly who assured those waiting that eventually enough vaccine would be available for everyone who wants one. Everything was running smoothly according to Kelly.
Kelly assured those waiting in line, some of whom had been waiting for nearly an hour, that they would get a vaccination.
“We know how many doses we have on hand,” Kelly said. “I won’t let you stand in line without having vaccine on hand.”
