Nov. 4 and 6 H1N1 vaccine clinics full

Dickinson County Public Health (DCPH) is scheduling H1N1 flu vaccination clinics as vaccine arrives. The two clinics to be held on Nov. 4 and Nov. 6 at Lakes Regional Healthcare's (LRH) Community Health Center at 1003 21st Street in Milford have now been filled. There are no other H1N1 flu vaccine clinics scheduled and DCPH staff is no longer accepting appointments for H1N1 flu vaccine. Once DCPH receives more H1N1 flu vaccine, additional vaccination clinics will be scheduled.

This information will be provided via LRH's web site, www.lakeshealth.org, every Monday and Thursday morning. People in the priority groups listed below are asked to check LRH's web site on Monday morning, Nov. 2 for newly scheduled clinic information.

The priority groups of people that are encouraged to receive the vaccine include:

* Healthcare providers and emergency service personnel

* Pregnant women

* Children ages 6 months to four years old

* Household contacts and childcare providers of children under age 6 months

* Children ages 5 to 18 years with chronic diseases (such as asthma and diabetes)

The H1N1 flu vaccine is only available through DCPH in our area and is provided at no cost. The vaccine is available as a nasal spray or an injection. The nasal spray is a weakened live virus and the injection is a dead, inactivated virus. With the nasal spray, you may get a few symptoms of H1N1 flu, but not actually get H1N1 flu. The injection will consist of one shot in the arm, except for children ages 9 and under; they will need to get two shots spaced one month apart.