Public Health District trying to make H1N1 vaccines more available to public

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Story Published: Dec 2, 2009 at 7:15 PM MDT

Story Updated: Dec 3, 2009 at 12:28 AM MDT

By Anthony Congi

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IDAHO FALLS - Several thousand doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be given out across southeast Idaho this week.

Starting tomorrow from 3PM until 5PM, three to five hundred vaccinations will be given out in Mudlake. Friday, thee to five hundred people in Ririe can get the vaccine from 5pm to 7pm. And more than 5-thousand doses will be on hand in Rexburg at BYU-Idaho, Saturday from 10AM to 2 PM.

The clinic on campus will specifically target the college students that fit the guidelines.

From September to November, the majority of confirmed cases were for people between the ages of 0-29. District Health is strongly encouraging people in that age group to get the vaccine"

But for the Eastern Idaho Public Health District, The clinics alone aren't enough. The office has now contacted private practices about the availability of the vaccine and their guidelines so doctors can give it to patients.

"We're getting it out, if they request and they want to follow these conditions then we're gonna try and make it available immediately," explains Public Health District Director, Richard Horne.

It's now up to the local doctors to request the desired dosages. The public health district will distribute them based on usage and patient numbers.

The Bonneville County office will also be holding walk-in clinics every Monday from 3PM to 6PM for the month of December.

Other offices in East Idaho should also see more of the vaccine. "I'm trying to put a supply of vaccine in each of our satellite and field offices in those eight counties so that people in those eight counties can call up for appointments," says Horne.

In their latest weekly update, the Centers for Disease Control is considering letting local health offices expand the vaccine to anybody who wants it.

"We're looking at that in the really soon, near future," explains Horne.

The Public Health District also encourages people not to come too early and wait out in the cold at these clinics because there will definitely be enough to go around.

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