DuPage increases daily H1N1 flu inoculations

With a new supply of both injectable and mist vaccines to combat the H1N1 flu, ther DuPage Health Department is now able to provide inoculations to 14,500 people a week, Director Maureen McHugh said Thursday.

The increase in vaccines also prompted health department officials to double the number of staffers providing vaccinations at the county's three clinics. Instead of the eight staffers providing vaccinations at the clinics, there are now 16 workers, McHugh said. The department has even opened special clinics to provide vaccinations to what McHugh labeled "very fragile children" with serious medical concerns who were identified by area school nurses.

The department is taking appointments for residents in the five "priority population groups" by calling (866) 311-1123. The priority groups consist of pregnant women, residents who live or care for children six months or younger, residents between the ages of 6 months and 24 years of age, residents 25 to 64 with underlying medical conditions and medical workers and emergency workers.

McHugh said phone screeners are trying to book injectable appointments for residents who can't take the mist vaccine. That group includes pregnant women and anyone with underlying medical conditions that cause weakened organs.

The department announced its new supply of injectable vaccines Wednesday on its protectdupage.org Web site. McHugh said residents should continue to monitor that site for updates; she is certain its technological infrastructure can handle the traffic.

The department's current supply of vaccinations is expected to last through the first week of December. McHugh also suggested residents who already have appointments for later this month try to reschedule for earlier appointments now that staffing has increased.

McHugh said the new arrival of injectable doses should reduce the number of fraudulent appointments. A small number of residents have made appointments for the mist vaccine only to need the injectable vaccine because of medical conditions they claim they were never asked about by screeners, she said.

"But that's not common," McHugh said. "The vast majority of our community is extremely cooperative and understands this isn't a robust supply."