|
by Kim
Fickett
Landmark reporter
The Platte County Health Department has enlisted
the help of area police departments to ensure
the flu vaccination clinic on Monday, Nov. 1 is
a success.
“The Platte County Heath Department, together
with the Platte City Police Department and the
Riverside Police Department, has developed a plan
to ensure that the flu vaccination clinic will
flow as smoothly as possible,” said Susan
Hoskins, emergency response planner/public information
officer for the Platte County Health Department.
These measures were taken after the health department
learned that their flu vaccine supply would be
cut by 90%.
After an announcement by the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) on Oct. 5 that its would be a shortage
of the flu vaccine this year, the health department
started developing a plan to deal with the effects
that would fall upon Platte County.
“The Platte County Health Department is
striving to serve the “at risk” population
of Platte County with our limited supply of vaccine
in as fair and equitable manner as possible,”
stated Hoskins.
That striving goal has forced the department
to hold a one time only flu clinic at 9 a.m.,
Monday, Nov. 1 at both the Platte City Health
Department, 212 Marshall Rd., Platte City, and
the Riverside Health Department, 4443 NW Gateway,
Riverside.
The flu clinics are open only to Platte County
residents who are: adults 65 or older; children
age 6 months-23 months, persons age 2-64 years
with underlying chronic medical conditions including:
heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, metabolic
diseases, blood disorders, and weakened immune
systems; and women who will be pregnant during
flu season (typically, November through March).
The health department is requiring that each
person bring with them: proof of Platte County
residency (driver’s license, utility bill
with address, property tax statement); adults
65 or older (driver’s license, Medicare card);
children age 6-23 months (birth certificate, shot
records, signed parental consent if caretaker
is bring child for immunization); adults with
underlying chronic medical conditions (note from
physician on prescription pad or letterhead attesting
to condition and need for vaccine); and pregnant
women (note for OB/GYN on prescription pad or
letterhead attesting to condition and need for
vaccine).
According to Hoskins, county residents planning
on attending the flu clinic should be advised
of the police presence at both locations to assist
with traffic flow and crowd control.
• Residents should not arrive prior to 8:15
a.m. (people will be turned away prior to 8:15
a.m.).
• Cost of the immunization will be an administration
fee of $7. (The vaccination itself will be free.)
If residents have Medicare or Medicaid, they must
present the card at the time of the vaccination.
• The clinic will begin promptly at 9 a.m.
and will last until all the vaccine is depleted.
• Individuals allergic to either eggs or
thimerosal, which is a form of mercury used as
a preservative, are not able to receive the flu
vaccine.
“The Health Department asks for the patience
and assistance of the public on Nov. 1. Lines
may be long and residents can bring a lawn chair
if they wish,” said Hoskins.
“Once it has been determined that an individual
seeking the vaccination meets the CDC criteria,
with supporting documentation, the shots will
be given on a first come-first served basis until
the supply is exhausted.”
|
