McLean County Health Department H1N1 Information

Still Circulating, Vaccinations Available

At this time, no additional public H1N1 vaccination clinics are scheduled through the McLean County Health Department. Free H1N1 vaccinations are available through the McLean County Health Department by appointment at the health department offices, 200 West Front Street in Bloomington. To make an appointment to receive an H1N1 vaccination, please call (309) 888-5449 to arrange an appointment. There is no cost to receive an H1N1 vaccination at the health department. H1N1 is still circulating. Currently, states in the southeastern United States are seeing a sharp rise in confirmed H1N1 cases and hospitalizations. A typical flu seasons runs through May and there is still time to protect yourself from the H1N1 virus!

Information for Parents
The Centers for Disease Control recommends a second dose of the H1N1 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 9 years of age, 21-28 days after the initial dose. Second doses may be scheduled by calling the health department at (309) 888-5449 to arrange an appointment. Parents must bring the vaccine administration card as documentation of the first dose. All children 17 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Parents are reminded to bring snacks, water and activities for their children and dress for vaccine administration.

ISU & IWU
All local college and university students, faculty and staff are eligible for vaccination at the McLean County Health Department. To schedule an appointment for an H1N1 vaccination, please call (309) 888-5449

H1N1 Vaccination Priority Groups
While H1N1 vaccine is no longer limited to the five priority groups, the priority groups as identified by the Centers for Disease Control are still at a higher risk with H1N1 and should seek vaccination if they have not already received it. These groups are:

• pregnant women,
• individuals who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months
• health care and emergency medical services personnel,
• individuals 6 months through 24 years of age
• individuals 25 years to 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems.

Prevention
McLean County Health Department recommends following the Centers for Disease Control guidelines to help prevent influenza.

• Get vaccinated for both seasonal and H1N1 influenza when it becomes available.
•  Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. Use a tissue or upper arm, not your hand.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water. Use alcohol based hand sanitizers if soap and water are unavailable.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth because germs spread in this manner.
• Routinely clean frequently touched common surfaces such as your phone, computer keyboard and door knobs.

• Avoid contact with sick people.
• If you are sick, stay at home until fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of a fever- reducing medication.

Remember you can be proactive against the flu! Just follow the 3 C’s:
Clean: Wash your hands
Cover: Cover your cough or sneeze
Contain: Keep sickness at home

For more H1N1resources, visit www.cdc.gov, www.flu.gov, www.ready.illinois.gov. Non-medical H1N1 information is available by calling the state-wide flu hotline at 866-848-2094 (English) or 866-241-2138 (Español).