H1N1 vaccines now available at Health Services for 18 to 24-year-olds and high risk students

Central Michigan University Health Services received its first batch of the H1N1 vaccine Tuesday, but supplies are going fast.

The Central Michigan Health Department dispersed 1,800 doses of the H1N1 vaccines to six different counties, giving Health Services 400 doses.

“I think it will only last about two weeks,” said Loretta Moran, assistant director of clinical operations. “(We) gave about 30 doses in a half hour.”

The vaccine is free to students who fall into the high-risk category. High-risk people include health care workers, first responders, people 6 months to 24 years old and also those who are 25 and older and have chronic health issues. Health Services will focus on students 18 to 24 years old for now, Moran said.

Moran said the vaccine Health Services has now is live-virus, meaning the vaccine is a small sampling of the flu virus to allow the body to build an immunity to it. It is unable to go to anyone with chronic health issues at this time.

“We cannot give it to anyone who is not in the high-risk category,” Moran said.

Avaliable at health department

The Central Michigan District Health Department now has some Flu-Mist vaccines — the live-virus vaccine — but is hoping to receive some of the non-live virus this week, said Mary Kushion, health officer for CMDHD.

“We put in a very small order last week,” Kushion said.

The department will hold vaccine clinics for people in the high-risk category as well.

There will be three clinics in November, including a first responder clinic, a school-based clinic and community clinic that focuses on the high-risk profile.

The clinics will consist of people in each category receiving the H1N1 vaccine. For the school-based clinic, the CMHD will set up the clinics at the local schools, Kushion said.

“We want to make sure we have enough,” Kushion said, “We have some in, just not enough to hold a clinic (at this point).”

The CMHD will start to schedule the clinics in the next few weeks.

“By December, we hope to give it to whoever wants it,” Kushion said.

The vaccine also is free at the department for anyone considered high-risk.