PIERSON -- The Volusia County Health Department is offering an H1N1 swine flu vaccination clinic intended only for students, teachers, and school staff in northwest Volusia County -- Pierson, Barberville, Seville, DeLeon Springs -- on Saturday.
“The delayed delivery of vaccine nationwide means we have a limited supply of vaccine and are not yet able to offer vaccine to anyone other than students, teachers and staff who live in Northwest Volusia, where we are holding our first in a series of school vaccination clinics,” said Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen, director of the Volusia County Health Department.
Because the health department has received limited quantities of the injectable H1N1 vaccine, it is only being offered to the priority groups
and not the general public at this time. Vaccine production is slower than expected, but as more becomes available, additional vaccination
clinics will be announced.
Saturday’s school vaccination clinic takes place at Taylor Middle-High School located at 100 E. Washington Avenue in Pierson. The clinic hours are 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday’s school vaccination clinic is for northwest Volusia County students, teachers, and school staff in the following groups:
# Private Schools
# Public Schools
# Childcare
# Pre-K
# Head Start
# Charter Schools
# Home-school
School vaccination clinics are being planned for Deland, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, and Daytona Beach in the coming weeks.
The Volusia County Health Department asks everyone to be patient and wait for the school vaccination clinic to be announced nearest your
home.
“Our goal is to eventually vaccinate everyone in Volusia County who wants to be vaccinated for protection against the H1N1 swine flu virus,”
Sorensen said.
Additional school vaccination dates, times, and specific locations will be announced upon arrival of vaccine.
Residents are urged to practice the following flu prevention measures:
PREVENTION TIPS:
# Cover your nose or mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
# Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
# Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are spread that way.
# Avoid school, work, or crowds when sick..
# Contact your doctor if you have fever and flu symptoms.
For more information about H1N1 swine flu virus, please visit www.volusiahealth.com ( http://www.volusiahealth.com/ )or www.cdc.gov
( http://www.cdc.gov/ ).