Swine-flu vaccination clinic is scheduled for Thursday

BY KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
10/27/09 at 4:02 AM

The Tulsa City-County Health Department has scheduled a walk-in clinic Thursday evening for people who want to be immunized against the H1N1 virus, or swine flu.

The clinic is set for 3 to 7 p.m. at Tulsa Community College's Northeast Campus, 3737 E. Apache St.

Because of the limited supply of vaccine, the Health Department is targeting children ages 6 months to 18 years of age; pregnant women; front-line health-care workers with direct contact with acutely ill patients; and custodial parents of infants younger than 6 months, spokeswoman Melanie Christian said.

"In the scheme of things, pregnant women and children have been shown to have higher rates of hospitalization from H1N1 virus," she said.

The agency anticipates receiving only 3,100 doses of the vaccine this week, but it has a small amount of the nasal spray and injectables left over from last week.

An additional 3,100 doses are being given to area health-care providers who serve high-risk patients such as pregnant women and children, Christian said.

Despite the limited supply, the Tulsa City-County Health Department set up the clinic to provide the public an "equal opportunity to access to the vaccine," she said.

The Health Department will continue its focus on children by sending strike teams of nurses to area schools to provide H1N1 vaccinations. The program was launched last week, and seven schools have allowed strike teams in so far, she said.

School sites are being confirmed for this week, Christian said.

Tulsa Public Schools last week completed a contract that would allow Health Department nurses to go into its schools and provide vaccinations.

Supplies have been

slowed by production problems as manufacturers struggle to keep up with demand for both H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine.

So far, the Tulsa City-County Health Department has received only about 12,000 doses.

"There are about 134,000 students in Tulsa County schools," Christian said. "When you have gotten only 12,000 doses of vaccine, it's a challenge."

Kim Archer 581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com