Free Statewide H1N1 Flu Clinics Begin Tomorrow in Arkansas
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-12-08 18:04:39 | Word Count: 505
Statewide vaccination clinics beginning tomorrow, Dec. 7, will offer free H1N1 vaccinations for everyone, not just those at risk, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.
The free clinics will be offered for two-weeks, beginning tomorrow and ending on Dec. 18, and will be held in nearly every county in the state, according to Randy Lee, Director of the ADH's Center for Local Public Health.
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The clinics will be administering the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine at no charge to everyone -- not just those at risk for serious complications from the H1N1 influenza vaccine, Lee said in a press release.
Health officials decided to open the clinics free of charge to all comers because "it appears that we will have adequate H1N1 vaccine to offer to everyone and substantial amounts of seasonal vaccine to offer also," said Lee.
The vaccine will be available while supplies last and will also be offered to children needing a second shot for full protection from the H1N1 virus.
The dates, times and locations of the mass flu clinics are posted on the ADH Web site, www.healthyarkansas.com
Although there is no charge for the vaccine, people vaccinated at the clinics are asked to bring their health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or ARKids First cards so the health department can file with their insurance providers.
Children less than 10 years old should have a second H1N1 vaccine shot and children less than 9 years old who have never before been vaccinated for the seasonal flu should have a second seasonal flu shot, according to the ADH. The first and second shots should be given at least four weeks apart.
The H1N1 vaccine is produced in the same manner as regular seasonal flu vaccine and in the same manufacturing plants, and simply contains a different strain of the influenza virus, according to the ADH.
Reactions to all flu vaccines may include a mild soreness or redness near the site of the shot and perhaps slight fever or headache. The flu shot cannot give you the flu.
Persons with severe allergies, such as anaphylactic allergic reaction, to hen's eggs and individuals who previously had Guillain-Barre syndrome, should not receive flu vaccinations.
Infants less than 6 months old cannot be vaccinated.
Symptoms for seasonal and H1N1 flu are the same and include fever greater than 100 degrees, headaches and body aches, coughing, sore throat, chills, fatigue, respiratory congestion and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting.
This is the second round of statewide clinics offered since the H1N1 swine flu pandemic began. Thousands more individuals have been vaccinated at school clinics in districts throughout the state and will continue until schools recess for the holidays, according to the ADH.
