Howard County has received about one-third of the H1N1 vaccine requested to immunize the at-risk population, according to the Howard County Health Department.
Karen Lopke, H1N1 coordinator for the health department, said the county requested 12,000 doses of the vaccine and, as of Wednesday, had received approximately 4,000.
“We’re not getting the number of doses that we anticipated,” Lopke said. “We may have to cancel some of the clinics.
“This is a situation we have no control over,” she said. “There are tough standards of quality control and the manufacturing process is taking longer than expected. It’s no one’s fault locally or at the state level.”
The first H1N1 flu vaccine was distributed to Howard Regional Health System and St. Joseph Hospital for emergency personnel and to pediatricians and obstetricians to vaccinate pregnant women.
Lopke said the Howard County community has to be flexible when it comes to the scheduling of clinics.
She said unless the county begins receiving 5,000 doses of the vaccine each week, clinics on Nov. 3 at the Western schools, Nov. 5 at Kokomo High School and Nov. 8 at the Indiana University Kokomo campus are doubtful.
“We’re disappointed we haven’t gotten the amount we expected,” Lopke said of the vaccine. “Decisions on conducting the clinics will be made as the vaccine arrives.”
Lopke said the health department has received notice of more flu cases than normal for this time of the year.
“It will come and go in waves,” she said. “We saw a sharp increase in the Western schools in September.”
Lopke said the decision on whether to close school is being left up to the superintendents of each school system.
“I’m sure they don’t want to close schools,” she said. “Everyone is being watchful on the percentage of students that are missing school on a daily basis.”
Lopke said the health department is urging people to wash their hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, use disposable tissues and use hand sanitizers.
• Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at 765-454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
Flu shot clinics
Dates for H1N1 clinics in Howard County could change depending on the supply of vaccine received.
School clinics
Clinics are for students attending the following schools and will take place during school hours. Students in grades 6 to 12 must have a signed permission sheet.
• Nov. 3 Western Schools
• Nov. 5 Kokomo High School
• Nov. 10 Eastern Schools
• Nov. 13 Lafayette School
• Nov. 13 Bon Air School
• Nov. 17 Maple Crest School
• Nov. 17 Kokomo Central School
• Nov. 19 Taylor Schools
• Nov. 20 Northwestern Schools
Open clinics
Clinics are for children age 6 months through the fifth grade and will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Proof of residency required.
• Nov. 8 noon to 5 p.m., Indiana University Kokomo
• Nov. 15 noon to 5 p.m., Indiana University Kokomo
• Nov. 22 noon to 5 p.m., Indiana University Kokomo
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