H1N1 vaccine clinic set Saturday

Tara Kaprowy

Nov. 5, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- H1N1 vaccine will be administered at a clinic at the Laurel County Health Department Saturday.

Executive Director Mark Hensley said he is "expecting to administer anywhere between 700 and 900 doses."

Hensley stressed, while he cannot turn anyone who wants the vaccine away, the health department is hoping to attend to priority groups recommended by the Centers for Disease Control first.

The groups include pregnant women, caregivers for babies ages 6 months and under, health care and emergency medical services personnel, children ages 6 months to 18 years, adults 19 to 24 and people ages 25 to 64 with chronic health problems.

Workers will be administering both the injectable and nasal versions of the vaccine.

The CDC expects side effects from the vaccine to be rare. Mild side effects to expect include soreness, redness and swelling, fainting, headaches, muscle aches, fever and nausea. These symptoms usually begin soon after receiving the shot and last one to two days.

Severe reactions include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, swelling around the eyes or lips, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat, a high fever, and behavioral changes. These symptoms would begin within a few minutes to a few hours after receiving the vaccine.

If these severe reactions occur, the patient should seek medical attention immediately.

Barbara Fox, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said no illnesses or repercussions from taking the vaccine have been reported.

"We haven't heard of any come back through our channels," she said.

In Kentucky, there have been 14 confirmed deaths due to H1N1, also called swing flu. As of Friday, Kentucky had been allotted 342,400 vaccine doses, which would vaccinate about 8 percent of the state population. In Laurel County, roughly 2,900 vaccines have been administered so far. The clinic will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Laurel County Health Department, providing supplies last. There is no charge to receive the vaccine.

Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0326-39506832