| Clinics opening H1N1 vaccine up to public |
By: JIM HAMMERAND, Staff Writer
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Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 8:14 pm
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NORTHFIELD — Local health care providers are opening their H1N1 vaccine supplies to the general population following new recommendations from the state.
The Rice County Department of Public Health announced on Monday that it would hold a free H1N1 shot and spray clinic for the public in Northfield on Jan. 12.
Northfield’s Allina Medical Clinic will also offer the vaccine to the public, Clinic Manager Barb Barlau said, as will the Northfield Hospital and Clinics, said spokesman Scott Richardson on Tuesday.
The vaccine was previously limited to certain groups, including young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health care conditions and health care workers. However, there have recently been reports of falling demand at flu shot clinics around the state, and the Minnesota Health Department said last week that public and private clinics can offer it to anyone if they have enough for priority patients.
The Health Department reported that 1.4 million doses of the vaccine have been allocated to Minnesota, and more are on the way.
Health officials continued to recommend that Minnesotans get vaccinated, saying a third wave could come later in the winter even though the pandemic appears to be waning in the state.
The swine flu has sickened about 50 million Americans, and killed about 10,000, according to estimates from federal health officials. Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that means about 1 in 6 Americans have had the illness.
The Rice County clinic will be held at the Northfield Senior Center, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, between 10 and 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 12. A clinic in Faribault is scheduled for Jan. 14.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jim Hammerand covers the city. He can be reached at jhammerand@northfieldnews.com or 645-1114. |
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