Flu clinics added in McHenry County

The McHenry County Department of Health has added three more dates for H1N1 vaccination clinics as the county works to administer the 3,400 nasal vaccinations it has received thus far.

Clinics are now scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at Marian Central High School, 1001 McHenry Ave., Woodstock; 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Marengo High School, 110 Franks Road, Marengo; and from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Appointments are necessary and can be made at www.co.mchenry.il.us or by calling (815) 334-2800.

Debra Quackenbush, the community information director for the McHenry County Department of Health, said additional clinics will be added until the county exhausts its supply of the nasal vaccination. The county has received 4,300 doses so far. About 1,350 doses will be available next week, Quackenbush said.

"We are just continuing to distribute the vaccine," Quackenbush said. "If you do the math, we still have a long way to go to 4,300."

At the first two clinics this week, the department distributed 800 nasal vaccinations to children and adults who are considered priority groups: those ages 2 to 24 with no underlying health conditions, health care workers with no chronic medical conditions and healthy first responders and care givers to infants younger than six months old. Another 200 patients are expected to receive the vaccination on Friday.

The county has received just over 10 percent of the 35,000 vaccinations it requested. So far, the health department has only received the nasal spray; Quackenbush said the arrival of an injectable vaccine is unknown.