Carver County Public Health is offering a H1N1 Nasal Vaccine Clinic for Healthy Children ages 5 through 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Waconia High School, 1400 Community Drive in Waconia.

The clinic is a first-come, first-served walk-in clinic; appointments will not be taken, according to a Carver County press release.

Nasal spray vaccine will be administered at this clinic at no cost. Children must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian who can give permission for the vaccine.

The nasal spray vaccine Public Health received for this clinic can only be administered to children in this age group who are not ill and do not have a weakened immune system or underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, the release stated.

“We recently received this additional nasal vaccine to help address the need for the next priority group – healthy children ages 5 through 9 who do not have underlying medical conditions,” said Carolyn Schmidt, interim director of Carver County Public Health.

The nasal vaccine can only be administered to children who are not ill and do not have a weakened immune system or long-term health problems such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

“Supplies of H1N1 flu vaccine are limited nationwide. Not all clinics in the county have received the vaccine, and Public Health has received limited supplies,” Schmidt said. “Unfortunately, we do not have enough vaccine at this time to be able to go into the schools and vaccinate all children. Our goal is to vaccinate as many children in this age group as possible with the vaccine we have now, with the understanding that they will need a second dose a month after this first dose.”

Children who receive the first dose of vaccine are not fully protected from contracting H1N1 until they receive the second dose. Individuals age 10 and older will only need one dose of the H1N1 vaccine. It is anticipated the H1N1 vaccine will be made available to the general public in early December.

The groups at highest risk for serious illness from new H1N1 virus appear to differ from the high-risk groups for seasonal flu: Older adults currently appear to be at lower risk than other groups for infection with H1N1. Children, adolescents and young adults appear to be at increased risk.

The median age of patients hospitalized with H1N1 in Minnesota is 12 years. Younger children, in particular, seem to be at increased risk. In Minnesota, children under five have been hospitalized with H1N1 at twice the rate of children aged five to 12.

In addition to the November 14 clinic, Public Health will continue to offer appointments to people in the highest priority group who cannot get the vaccine from their healthcare provider. This group includes children ages 6 months through 4 years of age, parents and care providers of infants under 6 months of age, pregnant women, and children ages 5-18 who have underlying medical conditions. These individuals can call Public Health at 952-361-1329 for an appointment to receive the vaccine.

For more information on H1N1 and local flu clinics, visit www.readycarver.org or call Public Health at 952-361-1329.