Remaining H1N1 flu vaccine dispensed today

Diana Washington Valdez

Nov. 3, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- EL PASO -- A limited supply of H1N1 nasal spray flu vaccine will be available today at four city health clinics, officials said.

"The clinics will each have 150 doses of the FluMist vaccine. All the injectable vaccine has been exhausted, and we have no idea when we will receive more H1N1 flu vaccine," said Tammy Fonce-Olivas, spokeswoman for the city Department of Public Health.

Fonce-Olivas said the FluMist is only for healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49 years old, according to federal government guidelines the clinics are following.

Late Monday, the city of El Paso Department of Public Health announced a 7-month-old child from Central El Paso became the county's ninth H1N1 influenza-related death in 2009.

The child had underlying medical conditions and was recently hospitalized with an influenza-like illness, officials said. Laboratory tests confirmed the child had the H1N1 virus.

Since last week, the clinics have administered 12,400 doses of nasal spray and injectable flu vaccine. The city had ordered 27,000 doses but received only 13,000.

The clinics were closed Monday but will resume the vaccination program until all the vaccine is given out.

City clinics have no more of the seasonal flu vaccine, but Immunize El Paso, a major private vaccine provider, has received a limited supply of that vaccine, said Dusty Warden, the organization's outreach coordinator.

"We will continue with our outreach schedule for the seasonal flu vaccine," Warden said.

"We have not received the H1N1 vaccine yet."

Immunize El Paso will be at Socorro High School today and at its Downtown clinic.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

Get your shots

H1N1 flu vaccine

Clinics at the following locations will administer FluMist vaccine only for H1N1 free of charge from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today:

--South Side: Henderson Health Center, 721 S. Mesa.

--West Side: Westside Health Center, 5195 Mace.

--Northeast: Northeast Health Center, 5587 Trans Mountain.

--Lower Valley: Tigua Health Center, 7862 San Jose.

--Information:"771-5740.

Seasonal flu vaccine

Immunize El Paso has received a limited supply of seasonal flu vaccine.

--Shots will be administered on a walk-in basis.

--Location: Today, 2 to 5 p.m. at Socorro High School, 10150 Alameda; 9 a.m. to noon and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at 222 S. Campbell, basement floor.

--Cost: $25; CHIP, Medicaid for children and Medicare for seniors accepted; 533-3414; see schedule at www.immunizeelpaso.org/flushots.htm

Newstex ID: KRTB-0478-39382464