H1N1 vaccines not in high demand, health department officials report (UPDATE 2:45 p.m. Dec. 16)

That is approximately 10 percent of the county population.

Donnell also said that the department's recent H1N1 vaccine clinics were not overly successful.

At the Dec. 8 clinic at Marshall High School, 158 of 400 vaccines were administered. But, Donnell said, the local Hispanic population's participation in the event was much better than in the past.

"I'd say half the participation was Hispanic," he said.

The Dec. 9 clinic in Slater saw only 11 of 100 vaccines given.

The department has an upcoming clinic Tuesday, Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at its own facility.

"We actually have a large quantity of vaccine on hand now," Donnell said.

Board member Virgie Simmerman said the low interest in receiving vaccines could be attributed to the current low sickness rate.

"We're not having as much actual illness," she said.

On a related topic, Administrator Lisa Thomas told the board it is already time to order flu seasonal vaccines for next season. The board decided that 1,000 shots -- the same number as this year -- should be ordered. In 2008, the department had about 1,500 doses, and 400 were thrown out, Thomas said.

In other business, the board approved the 2010 budget prepared by Thomas. The estimated expenses and income for the year each total $874,563.61.

"The total budget is quite a bit less than what we've budgeted in the past couple years," Board President Stephen Allegri said.

Thomas said she included a 2.5-percent employee raise in the budget, as well as the 15-percent increase in health insurance costs.

In the 2009 amended budget, the department's expenses totaled $801,192.95, and income was $807,354.70. In the original budget, they were predicted as $945,526.83 and $944,241.83, respectively.

Donnell submitted the department's emergency operation plan to board members to review. It provides procedures for a bioterrorism attack or pandemic event.

The plan now has more than 260 pages, up from less than 100, he said.

Board members Roberta Griffitt and Joby Raines were also present at the meeting.

The board's next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net