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H1N1 Vaccine Arrives; Eventual Plans For North Escambia Vaccinations

The H1N1 vaccine has arrived in Escambia County and the limited supply is available at limited locations. Public health officials say they plan to make voluntary H1N1 vaccinations available in North Escambia as soon as possible.

For now, the vaccine is available only at private physician offices and at the Escambia County Health Department’s main location on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola. But there are plans in place that will bring the H1N1 vaccine to North Escambia residents.

“We have identified several locations in North Escambia for vaccination clinics,” Eric Gilmore, Escambia County’s director of public health preparedness, said. Those locations, he said, include Century, Walnut Hill, Bratt and Molino.

“We hope to make it feasible for anyone to receive the vaccine,” he said.

In addition to vaccination clinics for the public, the health department is also making the vaccine available at K-12 schools in the county. Gilmore said that he could not provide a timetable for vaccinations at North Escambia schools due to a short supply of the vaccine. He said that students would be given vaccination permission forms about a week prior to the vaccination date at their individual school.

For now, Escambia County plans to make its limited supply of H1N1 vaccine available to pregnant women, children, and caregivers of infants less than six months — groups that have been identified as “high risk” by the Centers for Disease Control.

Gilmore said it would likely be December before the vaccine will be available to the general population.

“We are asking the public to be patient as H1N1 vaccine arrives over the next two to three months,” said Health Department Director Dr. John Lanza. “Our focus in Escambia will be to first provide vaccine to children and adolescents, pregnant women, and caregivers of infants who are less than six months old. We know that children spread the disease more readily than adults.”

As more vaccine becomes available in the upcoming weeks, the health department will offer it to the remaining priority groups which include 18-24 year olds, healthcare/EMS workers with direct patient care responsibilities, and people ages 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Because the majority of vaccine is being shipped to physicians, residents should first call their pediatrician, obstetrician and/or family practice physician to find out if the vaccine has arrived at their office yet.

The vaccine is available to pregnant women, caregivers and those who live with infants under six months, and children ages 6 months-18 years old at the Escambia County Health Department at 1295 West Fairfield Drive. It is available on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. There is no charge for H1N1 vaccine administered at the health department .