Flu vaccine clinic Saturday
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 23, 2005 2:06 AM
Wayne County Health Department anticipates having 2,050 doses of the flu vaccine on hand at its mass flu vaccination clinic planned for Saturday at Goldsboro Middle School.
Saturday's clinic will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Reporting times will be assigned alphabetically, with efforts made to accommodate all who show up, said Debbie Garner, immunization coordinator.
Ten stations to administer the vaccines will be set up in the middle school gym, she said. Goldsboro police and the Sheriff's Office will assist with traffic control. Parking at the Lionel Street entrance to the school will be limited to those needing assistance. Others will be directed to a large parking area two blocks from the school.
"We'll hopefully be able to get the vaccine to everyone who shows up," she said.
James Roosen, health director, said the effort is in line with what other health departments are doing.
"It's a requirement that we exercise this mass flu vaccination plan," he said.
The clinic will be an opportunity for the Health Department to practice how it would handle a bioterrorism event, Ms. Garner told the Board of Health on Wednesday.
"The threat is real," she said. "It's time to have a plan."
"We hope this event will simulate a real event in case it did happen."
The plan includes measures to notify the public and recruit volunteers, all in an effort to protect the public from the flu. Volunteers will be trained ahead of time and accompanied by experienced Health Department personnel, Ms. Garner said.
Citizens considered high-risk are especially encouraged to take advantage of the vaccination clinic. Categories include all children from 6 to 23 months, expanded to age 18 for those considered high-risk, pregnant women, health care workers, senior citizens 65 and older with or without chronic health conditions, and anyone having household contact with children under 6 months old.
Those who don't meet the criteria to receive a free vaccination will be charged $20 for the flu vaccine, $30 for the pneumonia vaccination.
To expedite the process, paperwork can be downloaded via computer. To access the information, visit the Health Department's Website, www.waynegov.com/help
Ms. Garner said the vaccine manufacturers appear to have an adequate supply of the vaccination this year. Last year, one of the manufacturers came up short, resulting in a shortage as the flu season approached.
"Wayne County Health Department has on hand 1,560 doses from Aventis, 1,050 doses pending that will be filled between Oct. 26 and Nov.18," she said. It has also received another 1,000 from another manufacturer and 500 doses from the state supply, she said.