Swine flu vaccine clinic scheduled at NKU Nov. 11

News from NKU...

Friday - November 6, 2009
For immediate release...

UPDATE: The NKU Office of Health, Counseling and Prevention Services is offering the intranasal H1N1 vaccine from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday in University Center 440 to the general public in addition to the NKU population. You must be a healthy person (no history of diabetes, asthma, immune disorders or other chronic illnesses) between the ages of 2 and 49 to receive the vaccine. Administration fee is $5 (cash only). For more information, contact HCPS at (859) 572-5650 or visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/nasalspray_qa.htm.


HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky Health Department will be providing the swine flu (H1N1) vaccine to Northern Kentucky residents during community clinics to reach those at highest risk of complications from the swine flu.

The upcoming free clinics are scheduled for the following dates, times and locations. Approximately 8,000 doses will be available at each clinic on a first-come, first-served basis.

First clinic:
Target groups: College students under 24 years of age, pregnant women and health care workers
Date and location: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, at Northern Kentucky University’s Bank of Kentucky Center (500 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Ky.)
Please note: No parking on campus will be available. Shuttle busses will run from Furniture Fair, 3710 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights; and First Baptist Church of Cold Spring, 4410 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, to bring residents to the Bank of Kentucky Center. Additional shuttle and parking information will be posted on the Health Department’s Web site at http://www.nkyhealth.org on Monday, November 9.

Second clinic:
Target groups: Pregnant women, caregivers of children under 6 months, parents with children aged 6 months to 4 years and parents with children at highest risk of flu complications
Date and location: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, at Walton-Verona Middle/High School, 30 School Road, Walton, Ky.

Third clinic:
Target groups: Pregnant women, caregivers of children under 6 months, parents with children aged 6 months to 4 years and parents with children at highest risk of flu complications
Date and location: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, at Summit View Middle School, 5002 Madison Ave., Independence, Ky.

"The task of vaccinating those Northern Kentucky residents at highest risk from complications from swine flu is enormous, and beyond the scope of any that we've faced before," said Steven R. Katkowsky, M.D., District Director of Health. "The large public clinic is a venue that will allow us to vaccinate the most people in the shortest amount of time given the resources that we have. However, we do anticipate that the demand for the vaccine may be great and ask that the public be patient through this process."

Anyone who has an allergy to eggs will not be eligible to receive the vaccine at the public clinics.

"Remember that these vaccination clinics are not the only source for vaccine in the community," said Katkowsky. "Many providers have received doses of the vaccine for their patients, and the Health Department will be vaccinating local school children in the coming weeks as well."

For more information on swine flu vaccination, including a list of commonly asked questions and answers, please visit the Health Department's Web site at http://www.nkyhealth.org or call 859.392.0678.

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For more information contact Emily Gresham Wherle at (859) 344-5470 or Emily.Gresham@ky.gov.