Lake County offers swine flu vaccine schedule

Though Lake County is still awaiting delivery of vaccines, it has scheduled clinics to provide free vaccinations against the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

The Lake County Health Department scheduled its walk-in-only free vaccinations for the public Thursday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 1.

The five locations are: Advocate Condell Medical Building, 1425 Hunt Club Road, Suite 103, Gurnee, which will also remain open to provide vaccines for several months; Carl Sandburg Middle School gymnasium, 855 W. Hawley St., Mundelein; Round Lake Area Park District Sports Center, 2004 Municipal Way, Round Lake Beach; Waukegan Park District Hinkston Park Field House, 800 N. Baldwin Ave., Waukegan; and the Lake County Health Department's North Chicago Community Health Center, 2215 14th St., North Chicago.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, except 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Round Lake Beach, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday in Waukegan, and closed Sunday in North Chicago.

Only the vaccine for the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, will be given at the clinics, not the seasonal flu vaccine.

Kane County also plans to offer vaccination against the H1N1 virus for free and with no appointments.

Vaccinations will be offered starting Oct. 26 for three Mondays in a row at three different sites each day, plus Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 at sites to be determined.

McHenry County has received 3,300 doses of nasal spray H1N1 vaccine, which will go to health-care workers and emergency responders like paramedics. For information, see mcdh.info, or call (815) 334-2800.

On Monday, DuPage County began taking appointments for H1N1 vaccinations from Oct. 22 through Nov. 8. Call (866) 311-1123.

Cook County has yet to announce any clinics, pending arrival of the vaccines.

All vaccines are for county residents who fit one of the high-risk priority groups:

•pregnant women

•those who live with or care for infants younger than six months

•health care and emergency medical workers

•anyone age six months to 24 years

•those age 25 to 64 who have chronic underlying medical problems such as respiratory or heart disease or a weakened immune system.