Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

A real shot in the arm; St. Clair, Madison offer H1N1 vaccinations

The St. Clair County Health Department will hold its first H1N1 vaccination clinic next week.

Patients who meet the requirements for the H1N1 nasal spray flu vaccine will be able to get vaccinated for no cost from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the St. Clair County Health Department, 19 Public Square, Suite 150, in Belleville.

"Vaccine supply is still limited," said Karen Kunsemiller, a St. Clair Health Department spokeswman. "As we receive more vaccine, we'll schedule more clinics."

The nasal spray vaccination is available for caregivers younger than 49, for children younger than 6 months, health care and emergency medical services personnel 49 years and younger, and children and young adults up to age 24.

In addition, the Madison County Health Department has plenty of H1N1 nasal spray flu vaccine available at clinics from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Jake Bergfeld, 4, of Shiloh, fought tears as he bravely let a nurse give him a free H1N1 vaccination Thursday morning at the East Side Health District in East St. Louis.

Jake was one of dozens of patients who received the shot to help combat the virus. An initial crowd of about 70 patients formed a line first thing when the clinic opened.

"He's got asthma, which is why I'm concerned about him getting it (H1N1)," said Jake's mother, Jackie Bergfeld. "Every time he gets any kind of cold, he's wheezing and stuff ... we don't want to take any chances."

East Side Health District registered nurse Anna Hardy explained how the H1N1 vaccine combats a different virus from the traditional flu shot. "We recommend high-risk population get both of them," she said.

The East Side Health District, which had 3,000 doses of the vaccine, will dispense the vaccine to students whose parents consent at schools in East St. Louis, Brooklyn and Cahokia.

Casterdaral Matory, of Swansea, an adult who suffers from diabetes, said he got the vaccination because of "concerns about the flu, swine flu going around."

He said the shot was less painful than the seasonal flu vaccine he got earlier this fall.

Nine-year-old Juaneshia Buie, of Brooklyn, didn't even flinch when she got her shot from registered nurse Diana Cummings.

"You took it like a pro," Cummings told the Dunbar Elementary School fourth grader. "You did great."

Cummings said patients age 9 and younger will have to return in about 30 days to receive a second vaccination shot.