H1N1 vaccine clinic for kids on Monday

Yuma County will host another H1N1 vaccination clinic, but this time it's just for the littlest residents.

Health care workers with the Yuma County Public Health Services District will host a special H1N1 vaccination clinic for children from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at the Southgate Mall in Yuma.

The county will host another clinic for children Dec. 28.

The clinics are to help Yuma County children under 10 years of age to receive their second dose of the H1N1 vaccine in order to have full immunity from the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu. The second vaccine should be received at least four weeks after the first.

"Children, our highest priority group, are now coming back for the second dose of the H1N1 vaccine," said Becky Brooks, director of the Yuma County Public Health Services District. "It is extremely important that we complete their immunization against H1N1, so we will expedite those children that arrive at the Dec. 17 clinic."

Vaccines that will be given out at the clinic Monday were not affected by a recent voluntary recall do to an issue with the strength of the vaccine. As previously reported by the Yuma Sun, the vaccines affected by the recall, 200 in Yuma County that were previously distributed to health care providers, were not dangerous. Health care providers who receive the recalled vaccines were notified and any parent with questions about the vaccine can call the Yuma County H1N1 hot line at 1-928-373-1025.

The clinic Monday will have doses of the inactivate influenza vaccine, referred to as the flu shot, and the live attenuated influenza vaccines, also known as the flu mist.

According to a news release from the county, there is no cost for individuals for the vaccine, and no other immunizations will be available at these specialized clinics. The doses will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, after a short screening process to determine if the person lives in Yuma County.

To date, Yuma County Health District has distributed more than 37,000 doses of the vaccine.

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.

FLU INFORMATION

For more information about the novel H1N1 virus or about the county-sponsored clinics: call (928) 373-1025 or visit, www.yumacountyaz.gov