News

Kane County gets H1N1 vaccine

Posted October 09, 2009 11:00 pm

By Josh Stockinger

Kane County has received its first shipment of H1N1 vaccine, and will make it available to the public later this month, officials said Friday.

In all, there will be nine clinics opening across the county, starting Oct. 26 in Aurora, Elgin and St. Charles, with others to follow Nov. 2 and 9.

The clinics will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on three successive Mondays, with Saturday clinics set for Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 at locations that have yet to be determined.

"We know that this vaccine is both safe and effective," Kane County Health Department Executive Director Paul Kuehnert said Friday. "The FDA has licensed it. There have been no safety shortcuts. It is produced exactly the same way the seasonal flu vaccine is produced every year. It simply is a new virus strain."

The county has requested 64,000 doses to offer free to pregnant women, people who care for infants, health care and emergency service providers, people between the ages of six months and 24 years, and adults ages 25 to 64 who have certain medical conditions. Once targeted groups have been vaccinated, anyone between the ages of 25 and 64 will be eligible.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends children 9 and younger receive two doses separated by one month. A nasal spray version of the vaccine is not for pregnant women and people younger than 2 or older than 50.

For more information, visit www.kanehealth.com/stop_flu.htm.

Kane Co. H1N1 clinic sites The Kane County Health Department will open public clinics Oct. 26 to administer the H1N1 vaccine. Also, nearly 200 private providers (doctors, clinics and pharmacies) have submitted vaccine orders. County clinic hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26 • East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane, Aurora • St. Charles North High School, 255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles • Larkin High School, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin Nov. 2 • Dundee-Crown High School, 1500 Kings Road, Carpentersville • Central High School, 44W625 Plato Road, Burlington • Illinois Math and Science Academy, 1500 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora Nov. 9 • Hampshire High School, 1600 Big Timber Road, Hampshire • Mooseheart, Route 31, between North Aurora and Batavia •Third site to be determined The health department plans Saturday clinics Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 at a location to be determined. SOURCE: Kane County Health Dept.

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