Free H1N1 flu vaccines for children six months to four years old will be available at a flu clinic Friday at the Goshen County Public Health Office.

The clinic starts at 9 a.m. at the public health office, located at 2025 Campbell Drive in Torrington, Goshen County Public Health’s Cathy Grace said.

Grace said her department has been in contact with local schools and said additional clinics will be scheduled as more of the vaccine becomes available.

“As we get it we’ll be giving it out,” she said.

Since May, the Wyoming Department of Health has confirmed 587 cases of the virus and has received reports that 77 people statewide have been hospitalized. To date, three Wyoming residents have died from the virus, according to the department.

Goshen County has reported three hospitalizations related to the virus, Department Spokeswoman Kim Deti said.

At the primary education level, Goshen County Schools Head Nurse Wendy Lewandowski said it’s tough to tell how many students actually have the actual H1N1 virus, but said the flu and other viruses have definitely hit earlier this year than in the past.

“We’ve had a lot of kids out,” she said, citing numbers that 5 percent of students were out sick from Torrington High School Tuesday, while 7 percent of Torrington Middle School students were at home ill.

Lewandowski reiterated that the schools will hold clinics as soon as more of the H1N1 vaccine is ready.

While manufacturers work to prepare the vaccine for distribution on a large scale, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends health providers offer initial doses to the following five priority groups:

- Pregnant women

- Persons who live with or provide care for infants less than six months old

- Health care and emergency medical services personnel

- Persons aged 6 months to 24 years

- Persons aged 25 to 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications



For the complete article see the 10-28-2009 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 10-28-2009 paper.

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