(High Risk Groups Still Encouraged to Get Vaccinated)
Watseka, IL – Beginning, Tuesday, December 15, 2009, all Illinoisans will be eligible to receive an H1N1 flu vaccination. “For the past couple of months we have been providing the H1N1 flu vaccine to those considered most at risk for the disease,” said Doug Corbett, Public Health Administrator. Now, says Corbett, the Illinois Department of Public Health has given permission to local health departments to immunize all Illinoisans.
“Our goal is to immunize the entire community,” Corbett said. “However, we know that not everyone will come in and get vaccinated so we are relying on the herd immunity theory to manifest. Herd immunity is described by Wikipedia as a type of immunity that occurs when the vaccination of a portion of the population (or herd) provides protection to unprotected individuals. “If a person does not get immunized but most people around them have been immunized and can’t get sick, then the person who is not immunized has protection because there is no one around them to infect them, even if they are not immune to the infection,” said Corbett.
Corbett said starting no later than December 21, 2009 retail pharmacies and private physicians will also be able to provide H1N1 vaccinations to individuals should they choose to do so. Persons receiving their vaccinations through a pharmacy might be charged an administration fee. Vaccinations received through the health department will remain free.
The health department has scheduled the following H1N1 clinics to provide vaccine for both high risk individuals and those not in a high risk group but wishing to receive the H1N1 vaccine:
Monday, December 21, 2009 Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department
Paxton, IL 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department
Watseka, IL 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information on clinic dates and times visit the health department web site at www.fiphd.org or call the flu hotline at 815-432-3750.
–courtesy www.iqesda.com
