H1N1 flu shots administered in Tri-Lakes

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November 5, 2009

By KIM SMITH DEDAM The Press Republican Thu Nov 05, 2009, 06:02 PM EST

SARANAC LAKE — Two H1N1 vaccine clinics held in the Tri-Lakes area have gone smoothly, distributing almost 1,000 inoculations to date to young people.

Franklin County Public Health Supervisor Lorraine B. Kourofsky said she saw a lot of concern in parents at the clinics held so far, in Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake.

“Everybody is very concerned, especially parents with younger children worried about exposing their children to anyone who may be sick.

The first two clinics were only to families residing within the school districts, with age group restrictions.

“I think everything went well at the clinic last night in Saranac Lake,” Kourofsky said Thursday.

“It unfolds one page at a time; we’re just trying to do the best for the community.”

BIG LINES

At the first clinic, held in Tupper Lake last week, Franklin County Public Health nurses and staff administered 462 doses of vaccine.

The process got high marks from Tupper Lake School Superintendent Seth McGowan.

The crowd, including parents, topped 700 people, he said.

Tupper Lake State Police and members of the Fire Department helped direct cars and organize the huge line. Fortunately, the weather cooperated.

It was a very orderly process, McGowan said.

“I cannot say enough good about their work. When I first started seeing the line form, up the sidewalk, literally along the entire front of the school and halfway up the driveway, I’m thinking there is no way they’re going to be able to serve all of these people. But they had one syringe left at the end. No one was turned away.

“They set up a very organized system.”

McGowan’s 11-year-old daughter was frightened by the thought of a vaccination.

“My daughter was very anxious about getting an injection. The nurse did such a great job calming her down.

“I don’t know if they’ll ask us to do it (the clinic) again, but I would certainly welcome them if they did.”

RAN OUT

At Saranac Lake High School Wednesday, some people were turned away.

“We had 500 doses again,” said Franklin County Public Health Program Educator Sue Patterson. “But population-wise, there were more people.”

The line was already quite long when Patterson arrived at 2 p.m., an hour ahead of the clinic held in the High School auditorium.

To organize the clinic, Public Health workers made 500 tickets.

“When people came in, they got tickets with numbers on them. If a parent had two children, then they got two tickets. We called them in by groups of about 50.

“By 3:30, we already knew we had 500 people, so we put up a sign saying we were out of vaccine.

“It took us until 6:30 to give all the vaccine with 10 vaccinators this time. We had six in Tupper Lake.”

Again, there was order throughout the process.

“I’m glad people are being patient. We have no control over what we’re getting for dosage,” Patterson added.

“It’s a nail-biter every day. We’ve ordered 8,000 doses of vaccine, and we’ve gotten 1,000.”

Volunteer help from area nurses has been key, Patterson said.

“We need nurses for medical screening, as well as vaccination.”

MORE CLINICS

Kourofsky said they are administering vaccine as it comes in.

H1N1 clinics are scheduled for:

E Brushton High School, 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, for district residents only.

E Malone High School, 3 to 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, for district residents only.

E North Country Community College, Saranac Lake, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 4.

“We need to get it out there. The clinic on Dec. 4 at North Country Community College is open to everyone in the community. We will have seasonal flu shots open to all groups. When it comes to H1N1, we’ll have to see how much vaccine we have but will start with age groups 6 months to 24.”

Some private physicians are receiving doses and administering them to their patients.

“Possibly by the end of December, H1N1 will be available to everyone that wants it,” Kourofsky said.

CLINTON COUNTY

Clinton County still has no public H1N1 clinics scheduled. Some vaccines are being sent directly to pediatrician offices, but the county itself has not received any since its original shipment, which was distributed to health-care workers and pediatrician offices.

Plattsburgh State’s Center for Student Health and Psychological Services is reporting a dramatic increase in the number of students exhibiting flu symptoms. Since the beginning of the fall semester, 300 students have come in with the flu, with nearly 250 of those cases in the past two weeks.

Most students sick with the flu have gone home and missed an average of four to five days of classes.

The Health Center will hold another H1N1 clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, for students only, in the Amnesty Room, Angell College Center. The center has about 500 shots, which will be given free to students with ID.

ESSEX COUNTY

The Essex County Public Health Department will be offering one public H1N1 clinic, to be held from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Schroon Lake Fire House.

This clinic is available only to people within a limited target group, and an appointment is required. Call 873-3500.

Clinics will be held at Schroon Lake Central School and Mountainside Christian Academy that same day, but those are open only to students enrolled at the school, school nursing staff and pregnant staff members.

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at:

kdedam@pressrepublican.com