About 200 Receive H1N1, Season Flu Vaccines At Century Clinic

December 13, 2009

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Almost 200 people received an H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccination Saturday at a clinic in Century.

The vaccinations were given at a portable clinic set up in the gym of the old Century High. With “stations” for paperwork, triage and the actual vaccinations, members of the public were quickly directed through organized areas of orange traffic cones with military precision. Escambia County Health Department employees, the Escambia County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Medical Reserve Corp (MRC), the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Reserves all participated in Saturday’s clinic.

“This is a lot like we would set it up for a mass emergency response,” Eric Gilmore, Escambia County’s director of public health preparedness, said. Such a setup, he said, could accommodate thousands of people in just a few hours. In the event of a public health emergency, the Escambia County Health Department, Gilmore said, could handle the entire population of the county in about a day with such clinic setups.

“This was a good exercise for us  today,” he said.

“It was a very efficient setup; we were in and out in less than 10 minutes,” said Jan LeCocq of Century.

Health officials were prepared for a large turnout in Century — the only H1N1 clinic planned for the general public in North Escambia. There were 1,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine available Saturday,  according to Molly Payne-Hardin, spokesperson for the Escambia County Health Department.

Just before the end of the six hour clinic,  Hardin said the clinic had administered 160 H1N1 vaccinations and 22 for the seasonal flu. All of the vaccines were given at no charge.

“It didn’t hurt a bit,” Ramond Kimmons of Walnut Hill said after receiving his H1N1 vaccination.

Anyone over six months old in Escambia County can receive the HN1 vaccine by:

  • calling their local retail pharmacy or physician’s office.
  • visiting the Escambia County Health Department’s Flu Fast Track Clinic, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. or Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1295 W. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola. Walk-ins only.

“The clinic rarely has a wait, with the longest wait being documented at 10 minutes,” Hardin said.

”The best gift you can give this holiday season is the gift of good health,” said Escambia County Health Department Director Dr. John Lanza. “I encourage everyone to get their flu shot. It’s your best protection and helps ensure that you won’t pass the flu on to a high-risk individual. The vaccines are safe and simple to receive.”

Pictured above: Ramond Kimmons of Walnut Hill received the H1N1 vaccine Saturday morning at an Escambia County Health Department Clinic in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “About 200 Receive H1N1, Season Flu Vaccines At Century Clinic”

  1. Laura Cook on December 14th, 2009 11:02 pm

    I wonder when Escambia County Health clinic in Pensacola that we have people living in theNorth end of the County – not living in Century. I calledl last year about a flu shot and they informed me they came for an hour or two at Walnut Hill but most of the people did not know when it happened. We pay taxes and deserve to get these services. They have cut out out Judicial System in the North end that was located in Century. Now we have to drive half-way to Pensacola to get these services. They could have scheduled their workers for one or two days per week, cut some of our HIGHLY PAID PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THESE DEPARTMENTS and kept the service up here for us. I would like to get a shot or shots but I work in AL and not able to get one in AL because I live out of State so can’t get it in Escambia County unless I take off a day from work and there’s others like me. Come on Escambia County Florida we pay you taxes so give us services.

  2. Bama Fan on December 14th, 2009 8:36 am

    That is a mighty good nurse! Now if she would get a better looking jacket! Roll TIDE!

  3. Julie booth-Moran on December 13th, 2009 1:37 am

    Special thanks to Dr. Lanza and the Esc.County Health Dept for having a flu clinic in Century. Century Pharmacy had been expressing the need for sometime. We appreciate that they listened and came. Thanks again!