Flu clinics at schools will begin on Nov. 16

CANTON — The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department will begin administering H1N1 vaccine in public schools Nov. 16.

Public Health so far has administered almost 1,600 doses of H1N1 vaccine, but Deborah M. Kent, interim director, said Thursday that has not kept up with demand.

She said Public Health has been able to organize H1N1 clinics quickly after receiving vaccine shipments, and attendance has been so high there has not been enough to go around. She said the department ran out of injectable vaccine two weeks ago, but has been able to supply some health care providers with nasal vaccine.

"We got 300 doses of injectable and 100 doses of nasal vaccine Monday," Mrs. Kent said. "We're inundated with phone calls. People really want it. I haven't been hearing a lot of people say they don't want it."

Public Health's latest H1N1 clinic was Thursday. A sign posted Thursday afternoon outside the Route 310 Human Services Building said the clinic was cut short because vaccine ran out.

She said Public Health expects 3,784 more doses to arrive Nov. 13, enough to begin immunizing students.

"We really want to push to get the schools done because there has been so much absenteeism," she said.

"Slips will go home to parents to return to the schools with what they want their children to have, the nasal or injectable vaccine. It's strictly voluntary."

It's unclear how many cases of H1N1, or swine flu, have been treated in the county this fall. Mrs. Kent said many people who get sick and see a doctor are being treated for an influenza-like illness but aren't being tested for H1N1.

"In the normal flu season, they don't test everybody," said Rebecca A. Trejos, Public Health's communicable disease coordinator. "What we're seeing now is a combination of respiratory illness, seasonal allergies and H1N1. I think there's a little of everything out there."