H1N1 vaccine now available to general public

After being restricted to priority groups for about two months, the H1N1 vaccine is now available to all Saline County residents, health department Assistant Administrator Russ Donnell said Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 8.

He said the department continues to receive shipments of the vaccine, and now many of the high-risk individuals in the area have been vaccinated.

"It appears that our priority groups have been taken care of," Donnell said. "Now we're not getting a lot of utilization (of the vaccine)."

People interested in receiving the H1N1 vaccine should contact their primary care physician and schedule an appointment. Those who do not have a physician in the area can seek the vaccine at the health department.

Currently, both the shot and the nasal mist are available. But, the mist is only approved for people between the ages of 2 and 49 who are not pregnant and have no underlying health conditions.

In either form, the vaccine is free, and it is not mandatory.

The health department is hosting vaccine clinics Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Marshall High School and Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Slater City Hall.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net

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