Metroplex Hospital gave 150 free swine flu shots
Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 30 2009 05:40 AM
By Jade Ortego
Killeen Daily HeraldMetroplex Hospital administered about 150 free H1N1 vaccines at a clinic Tuesday – 28 days after the last clinic – so that children younger than 9 could receive the last half of their round of dosages.
People are not scared of the virus, and are mostly informed about the risks and the importance of getting vaccinated, said Metroplex public relations specialist Desirae Franco.
"The media has done a good job of letting people know about the clinics and vaccines," she said.
People older than 2 and younger than 50 can opt to get the mist, a nasal spray version of the vaccine.
Those with diabetes, asthma, blood disorders or other health conditions must get the shot because the mist, being live, works faster and may briefly compromise the immune system.
"We just do it for a precautionary measure," said Satwana Hurdle, Bell County Public Health District's preparedness planner.
Pregnant women need a doctor's permission to get the vaccine, and they must get the shot.
Nasreen Akber was at the clinic to get her vaccine and get one for her 2-year-old daughter.
"We heard that we could get it and it would protect her," Akber said.
On Dec. 1, the date of the last H1N1 clinic, about 600 people were vaccinated in four hours, Franco said.
The hospital's pharmacy placed orders for more of the vaccine, but it isn't known when the hospital will have another clinic, Franco said.
The Bell County Public Health District offers the vaccine free from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday through Friday at 809 N. Second St. in Killeen and at 969 Marlandwood Road in Temple.
Residents can go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/txflu/flu-locator.shtm and enter their ZIP code to find places to get the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine.
For more information about both types of the flu and their vaccines, go to texasflu.org.
Contact Jade Ortego at
jortego@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7553.