H1N1 vaccine booster clinic coming to Kane County for young children

Parents worried about the H1N1 vaccine's effectiveness wearing off without a booster will be set at ease with a new Kane County Health Department clinic specifically for children younger than 10.

Any child younger than 10 who received the H1N1 vaccine needs the booster shot for it to provide optimum protection against the flu virus. Centers for Disease Control guidelines say children can receive the booster 28 days after the initial shot. Recent shortages in the vaccine created some concern that the booster would not be available, but more frequent shipments of doses to Kane County will provide the special booster clinic with enough shots to serve the youngsters who received the vaccine Oct. 26 through Nov. 5.

Families with children younger than 10 who received the H1N1 vaccine before Nov. 5 will get a postcard in the mail informing them of the booster clinic and reminding them of why a booster shot is recommended. The clinic is slated to run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5 at Elfstrom Stadium on Kirk Road in Geneva.

Parents of children younger than 10 who received the H1N1 vaccine after Nov. 5 should contact the health department's H1N1 call center at (630) 723-5414 to schedule an appointment on a different date.

The H1N1 vaccine and booster also are available through several local health care providers and doctors.