Depending on the availability of the H1N1 vaccine, clinics are tentatively set for:
Nov. 4: Saranac Lake High School, 3 to 5 p.m.
Nov. 9: Brushton-Moira Central School, 3 to 5 p.m.
Nov. 16: Franklin Academy High School, Malone, 3 to 5 p.m.
Dec. 4: North Country Community College, Saranac Lake, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MALONE — About 550 people in Franklin County have already received their H1N1 vaccinations, and more public clinics are set for coming weeks.
Mose Herne, director of the County Public Health Services Office, said the first 100 vaccines were distributed to local obstetricians to give to pregnant women.
Another 450 people were given either the injection or nasal spray Tuesday at a public clinic in Tupper Lake.
Priority is being given to pregnant women and children age 6 months up to young adults age 24.
LONG LINES
The agency and its 20 staff and volunteers were expecting about 200 people Tuesday, but that number more than doubled during the four-hour clinic, Herne said.
"We went from 3 to 7 p.m., and everybody who came got the vaccine one way or the other. No one was turned away."
He said more staff and volunteers will be brought in for the next round of clinics set for Brushton, Saranac Lake and Malone.
OTHER COUNTIES
In Clinton and Essex counties, public-health officials are not scheduling public clinics until they have the vaccine in hand.
"We're being told we're getting more vaccine next week, but we've heard that before," said Debbie Endsley, acting director of Essex County Public Health.
"But we're hoping things open up soon, and then we can begin the scheduling."
For now, Essex County is distributing the vaccine by appointment only to the highest-risk patients, such as pregnant women and young children with underlying health issues.
Five public vaccination sessions were held when the initial 600 H1N1 dosages arrived, "but we haven't had any for two weeks," Endsley said.
The clinics were held in Newcomb and Minerva, as well as three Lake Placid schools: Northwood, North Country and the National Sports Academy, she said.
As the clinics are scheduled, they will be posted on the Public Health Department link on the county's Web site at www.co.essex.ny.us.
Clinton County Health Department hasn't received any vaccine since the first batch.
"We have none," said spokeswoman Laurie Williams. "We don't know from one day to the next. It's a little discouraging."
COOPERATION
Herne said that, for the most part, everyone was cooperative at the clinic Franklin County held in Tupper Lake, even though they had to wait as long as 90 minutes to be seen and treated.
"It took us four hours, and 450 people were treated, and that is because everyone was so cooperative and understanding."
Herne said it's difficult to know how many more vaccines will eventually be supplied to Franklin County.
"I believe we will be getting more next week."
He said it will be distributed as quickly as his office can do it.
He encourages anyone with questions to log on to the county's Web page at www.franklincony.org.
E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com
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