First H1N1 clinics planned for kids

NORWICH – The Chenango County Public Health Department will hold two, by appointment only H1N1 flu vaccine clinics in November for children ages 2-18. No walk-ins will be accepted.

The clinics are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6 and from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19 on the basement floor of the Chenango County Office Building on Court Street.

Only the intranasal, live vaccine will be available. Those children who should not receive live intranasal vaccine include:

• Children under 2 years of age;

• Anyone with a weakened immune system;

• Anyone with a long-term health problem such as heart, kidney, liver, and lung diseases and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, anemia and other blood disorders;

• Children younger than 5 years with asthma or one or more episodes of wheezing during the past year;

• Anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders (such as cerebral palsy) that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems;

• Anyone in close contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system (requiring care in a protected environment, such as a bone marrow transplant unit);

• Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment.

Children who are moderately or severely ill are advised to wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. Other clinic dates will be scheduled and announced in area newspapers and on television.

Public Health Director Dr. Marcas Flindt said the county has received 400 doses of the swine flu vaccine and ordered 2,000 more doses on Monday. Future clinics will be scheduled with area school districts as soon as enough doses arrive.