County to hold first swine flu vaccination clinic

David Nivens

Nov. 6, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- HIGH POINT -- Guilford County Health Director Merle Green announced the county's first swine flu vaccination clinic Thursday.

With a shipment of 6,000 doses arriving this week, health officials decided to offer a free H1N1 flu vaccination clinic 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Guilford Technical Community College for children age 6 months to 18 years of age, college students and pregnant women.

The clinic will be held in the Medlin Center, 601 High Point Road, on the Jamestown campus.

"We did not have enough doses available to do this until now," Green told the Guilford County Board of Commissioners during a meeting at High Point University. "We don't want to have people lined up, and then turn them away because we ran out of vaccine."

Health workers will interview people to make sure they are in the priority groups. The GTCC campus will open at 8 a.m. Saturday. People eligible to get the vaccine will get a ticket, Green said. No appointment is needed.

"We are anxious to continue our vaccination efforts for children, college students and pregnant women since we know these three groups are most adversely affected by this virus," Green said. "We still can not vaccinate health care workers and EMS people because there is not enough vaccine."

People should bring their insurance or Medicaid card if they have one. In addition, college students should bring their college identification cards.

Meanwhile, the agency has booked vaccination appointments through November, Green said.

Individuals who are moderately to severely ill are advised to wait until they recover to get the vaccine. Those with a mild cold or other illness should be able to get the vaccine. No one should get the vaccine if allergic to eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine, have had Guillain Barre Syndrome or a life-threatening reaction following a flu vaccine, according to the health department.

dnivens@hpe.com -- 888-3626

Clinic

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Where: Medlin Center, Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown

When: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Saturday

Directions: From High Point -- Kivett Drive east, turn left on Harvey Road, turn left on Vickrey Chapel Road and then right on E. Main Street. The GTCC entrance will be off E. Main Street, on the left.

Parking: The Medlin Center and parking is accessible from High Point Road, across the street from Ragsdale High School.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0090-39509388