Carver County Public Health will continue to make H1N1 vaccine available to children and other priority group members who cannot get the vaccine from their healthcare provider.

Public Health will offer Appointment Clinics from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays at the Carver County Government Center at 600 East Fourth Street in Chaska.

Vaccine will be administered only to those individuals who have an appointment, according to a Public Health press release.

The vaccine is available for all children 6 months to age 9, and children ages 10 through 18 with underlying medical conditions. In addition, the clinics will provide vaccine to pregnant women, parents and care providers of infants under 6 months of age (including childcare workers), and first responders (Emergency Medical Technicians, police and fire personnel). Public Health has both the nasal vaccine and the injectable vaccine available.

The nasal vaccine contains a live virus and is given to healthy children. The injectable vaccine is an inactivated vaccine, which can be given to pregnant women and children with a weakened immune system or long-term health problems such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, and people over 50 years of age.

“We will be providing vaccine at our daily clinics until we have exhausted our supply,” said Ken Carlson, Incident Commander for Carver County Public Health and Emergency Management Director for Carver County. “We expect to be able to open appointments for vaccine to children of all ages very soon.”To make an appointment to receive the vaccine, call Public Health at (952) 361-1329.

500 vaccinated

“Last Saturday’s H1N1 nasal vaccine clinic was a great success,” Carlson said.A total of 500 children received the H1N1 nasal vaccine during Saturday’s clinic held at the Chaska High School. This was a follow up to the clinic held a week before in Waconia, in which 600 children were vaccinated.

The clinic targeted healthy children ages 5 through 9 years of age. The Minnesota Department of Health has identified them as a priority for receiving vaccine because they will need two doses to attain full immune protection.

The clinic was staffed by Carver County Public Health, Carver County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers, the Chaska Police Department, and Eastern Carver School District staff. Saturday’s clinic was first-come, first-served and the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine was administered at no cost to the recipients.

Children who received the H1N1 nasal vaccine at Saturday’s clinic will need to receive a second dose in one month, approximately the week of Dec. 19. The first dose of the H1N1 vaccine primes the immune system, while the second dose boosts immune protection.

At this time, the availability of vaccine for the second dose is uncertain. Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their clinic closer to Dec. 19 to see if they have vaccine. Information about vaccine availability and H1N1 can also be found on www.readycarver.org.