Beginning Saturday morning, free H1N1 swine flu shots for city residents will be made available on a regular basis at six city college locations for at least the next several weeks.
The announcement of the vaccination clinics heralds the arrival of steady, regular supplies of the vaccine that the federal government first began shipping out in small quantities less than two weeks ago. Though they offer the free vaccination clinics, city health officials urged people who have personal physicians to go to them for vaccination.
The early shipments of the vaccine are being made available only to persons most vulnerable to the H1N1 virus. Those include: pregnant women; all children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years; people who live with and/or care for infants younger than 6 months of age; people age 25-64 with chronic health conditions (like asthma or diabetes), and health care workers.
But amid concerns about delays in the production of the vaccine, Julie Morita, medical director for the health department's immunization program, declined to say how much vaccine would be available at the clinics this week.
She said patients would be served on a first-come, first-served basis until the presently available doses run out.
The Chicago Department of Public Health said that now that larger quantities of the vaccine are being delivered to hospitals and doctors' offices around the city, people in the high-risk categories should call their family doctors to get the shot.
"The best place to get an H1N1 flu vaccination is your own family doctor or other regular medical provider," said city Health Commissioner Terry Mason. "Now is the time for people who want a flu vaccination to contact their doctor to find out when they can get vaccinated."
For those who don't have a personal physician and lack the means to pay for the vaccination, free shots will administered at six locations: Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted St.; Olive Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave.; Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S. Pulaski Rd.; Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave.; Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave.; Wright College, 4300 N. Narragansett Ave.
Beginning Saturday, they will be offered every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at those locations.
Those with egg allergies should not receive the vaccination, the health department said. It said with larger quantities of H1N1 vaccine being delivered in the next few weeks, vaccinations will also be available soon at area retail pharmacies.
No appointments are necessary. City health officials also urged city residents who attend area colleges and universities to check with their campus health services to see if and when they will offer H1N1 flu shots.
"This is a time for all Chicagoans to be patient and think prevention," Morita said.
"Every week, thousands of doses of H1N1 vaccine are arriving in the city and suburbs. Assuming that vaccine production continues as anticipated, it is fair to say that every Chicagoan who wants an H1N1 vaccination will be able to get one in the weeks and months to come," she said.
Meanwhile, in Will County residents who are in targeted populations to receive the H1N1 swine flu vaccine will be able to get vaccinated free of charge beginning next Wednesday.
Vic Reato, spokesman for the Will County Department of Public Health, said today that the county got its first delivery of the vaccine from the federal government Wednesday morning, "several thousand" doses of the nasal spray formulation, and expected to get the injectable shot versions in the next few days.
The vaccinations will be offered from seven locations around the county, each one offering them twice on days different from the others.
They are:--Plainfield Central High School, 24120 West Fort Beggs Drive, Plainfield, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Nov. 16.--Joliet Central High School, 201 East Jefferson Street, Joliet, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Nov. 2. --Brooks Middle School, 350 Blair Lane, Bolingbrook, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 30, and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Nov. 24.--Joliet West High School, 401 North Larkin Avenue, Joliet, noon to 6 p.m. on Nov. 1 and Nov. 22.--Hickory Creek Middle School, 22150 116th Avenue, Frankfort, 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 and Dec. 2.--Lockport East High School, 1333 East 7th Street, Lockport, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 9 and Nov. 30.--Crete-Monee High School, 1515 West Exchange Street, Crete, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 10 and Dec. 1.
"All dates are subject to change depending upon the availability of the vaccine," Reato said.
County health officials said the vaccine will be limited to pregnant women, parents and caregivers of children younger than 6 months old, young people beween 6 months and 24 years old, and persons younger than 64 years old with serious underlying medical conditions.
A complete schedule of community vaccination clinics in Will County is online at www.WillCountyHealth.org/SwineFlu.
-- William Mullen
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