KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - H1N1 Vaccines By County

H1N1 Vaccines By County

Eyewitness News has put together a list of what how several Kansas counties are distributing the H1N1 vaccine.

First, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has updated the list of priority groups:

The groups include:

• Pregnant women
• People living with or caring for infants younger than six months old
• Health care and emergency workers
• Children aged 5-18 years old who have chronic health conditions
• Children aged six months to four years old

Most county health departments are offering the shot and the nasal mist H1N1 vaccine. The mist is available only to people aged 2-18, and people who care for or live with infants younger than 6 months old. Pregnant women cannot take the mist.

KDHE also reminds parents that children under the age of 9 will need a second dose.

KDHE H1N1 Map

KDHE has established a phone number for concerned Kansans to call with questions about the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.

The toll-free number is 1-877-427-7317. Operators will be available to answer questions from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Persons calling will be directed to press "1" on their touch-tone phone to be directed to an operator who can answer questions. 

BUTLER COUNTY

The H1N1 vaccine has started to arrive in Butler County, but at this time in very limited quantities.  Until vaccine quantities increase, the Butler County Health Department will not be holding any community vaccination clinics.

Vaccine that has arrived has been distributed to the hospitals as well as health care providers that see patients in the priority vaccination groups.  (See Above)

COWLEY COUNTY

Cowley County Health Department officials say they started distributing the vaccination to the people listed in the above priority groups. One modification they made was to offer the vaccine to 5-24 year olds with chronic illness.

Cowley County hosts a special vaccine clinic every Wednesday. Clinics are held at each of the health department offices in Arkansas City and Winfield.

For the Wednesday, November 4th clinic about 500 doses will be available between the two offices. Mobile clinics are being planned when the vaccine becomes more widely available.

ELLIS COUNTY

Ellis County has been vaccinating school-age children through school-based clinic. It has also offered the vaccination to health care workers and pregnant women. The clinics have been held in about six school locations over the past several weeks. The most recent clinic was held Tuesday at the Holy Family School. The county expected to distribute all 150 available doses.

FORD COUNTY

Health officials say there is a limited supply of the H1N1 shot and nasal mist. It has been made available to the above priority groups. Mobile clinics are being planned for when the vaccine becomes more available.

HARPER COUNTY

So far, Harvey County officials have only been able to distribute the vaccine to health care and emergency workers, due to their limited supply. Another shipment is expected tomorrow of about 100 doses, half shot, half nasal mist. If the expected shipment arrives, the county plans to offer it to the rest of the priority groups.

HARVEY COUNTY

In the past, Harvey County has offered the vaccine to health care workers, pregnant women, and anyone who lives with or cares for infants younger than 6 months old. There is a clinic scheduled for Tuesday evening at the health department in Newton from 4pm-8pm. The clinic is open to everyone in KDHE's priority groups, listed above. The clinic will be open for as long as supplies last. There are about 300 doses available, including the nasal mist and shot.

Right now, the county does not have the number of doses they need to open school or community clinics. Clinics are being planned for each community in the county.

RENO COUNTY

Health officials started distributing the vaccine with the priority groups. The initial doses went to the priority groups as outlined above. Because there is a limited number of vaccines, the department relied heavily on private providers to distribute it. The first H1N1 vaccine clinic will be held this Saturday, November 7th from 9am-4pm at the health department. That clinic is only for pregnant women and people caring for or living with infants 0-6 months old. 

SUMNER COUNTY

Sumner County officials have offered the vaccine to all of the KDHE priority groups. The county currently has a few hundred doses, including both the shot and the nasal mist. Doses are available at the health department. There are not enough doses to open school-based clinics.

SALINE COUNTY

Both the nasal mist and the shot are available in Saline County. The first doses went to health care workers. Last week, they were distributed to 6-month-olds through 4-year-olds. This week they are expanding distribution to the remaining priority groups, listed above.

A special H1N1 clinic will be held on Thursday, November 5th from 2pm-6pm at the 4-H Building in Kinwood Park in Salina. There will be 500 shots available and 400 doses of the nasal mist.

Saline County schools have already collected parental consent forms for school-based clinics when the vaccine is available.

SEDGWICK COUNTY

So far, pregnant women and health care workers are the only people who have had access to the vaccine in Sedgwick County. On Wednesday, a speical clinic will be had at the Wichita Mall on East Harry. They will distribute vaccing to children aged 2-4 and people who care for infants younger than 6-months-old. Only the nasal mist is available.