How to get H1N1 vaccine in Cook County
Suburban Cook County residents in high-priority categories can call the Department of Public Health during regular business hours to make appointments for H1N1 vaccines, and pediatricians and obstetricians could be getting some of the vaccine soon, according to a department spokeswoman.
The department is starting appointment-only clinics Monday, and has telephone lines open for calls from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The numbers are working but have been busy, said Amy Poore, the spokeswoman, who urged patience. Appointments for any region of the county can be made at any of the phone numbers. They are (708) 836-8600 or for the district offices: (847) 818-2860; (708) 786-4000; (708) 974-6160; or (708) 210-4500.
The department received 50,000 doses of vaccine late Wednesday and decided to set up the clinics and loan vaccine to pediatricians and obstetricians who had already ordered vaccine for themselves. However, it has not been determined how many doctors' offices will be provided vaccine or how many doses will be distributed that way, said Poore.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site (cdc.gov) lists priority groups. They include those ages 24 and under, caregivers of infants under 6 months old, pregnant women, health care providers and adults from 25-64 with certain health conditions.
Today, the Health Services Department of the Village of Arlington Heights will dispense 1,000 shots, but only to village residents who made appointments Thursday night and Friday.
Meanwhile, the county health department's first mass vaccination program at Palatine schools Thursday and Friday went well, said Jim Garwood, assistant superintendent for administrative services in Palatine Township Elementary District 15.
He said about 5,600 students and high-risk staff members at 12 Palatine schools in his district were vaccinated, which means about 65 percent of the parents decided to take advantage of the program. County personnel also vaccinated about 1,000 students and eligible staff members at private schools in the two Palatine ZIP codes.
A few community residents came to schools thinking it was a general clinic, said Garwood, but they were polite and there were no incidents. He praised the Village of Palatine as well as the Cook County Department of Public Health.
"It is a highlight of my career," said Garwood. "Something successful where various community agencies cooperated to get something done that we felt good about." The Cook County Department of Public Health decided to start with schools as a way of getting vaccine to many children, who are considered more likely to get this version of influenza than older people.