State health officials say the H1N1 vaccine should be available to the general public statewide in two weeks.

“We still want our target groups to be vaccinated,” Judy Monroe, state health commissioner said. “But this is good news to those in the general public. There has been some pent up demand, so I guess, happy holidays.”

Monroe said the state will begin to put vaccines into pharmacies statewide the week of Dec. 20. She explained the H1N1 vaccine will never be sold over the counter, because it requires a professional to administer the vaccine.

“Really over that last two weeks of December we are going to get it into drug stores and get vaccines for whoever wishes,” she said. “That will continue into the new year, and we certainly encourage folks to be vaccinated.”

The Cass County Health Department does not have any clinics scheduled for the general public to receive the vaccine. Local health officials say they plan to schedule clinics for the general public within the next few weeks, and will advertise the details of the clinics in the newspaper and on the radio.

The health department in Pulaski County has already hosted clinics for the general public in Winamac, Francesville and at the health department. As of Thursday, environmental health director Terri Hansen said more than 850 people from the general public had received the vaccine.

“We are ranked fifth in the state for getting our vaccine out and for our turnaround time,” Hansen said.

The general public clinics thus far have been a success, she said.

“They have run smoothly,” Hansen said. “People have been very patient.”

She explained after the health department hosted numerous clinics for all of the target groups, the local health officer decided the general public could be vaccinated as well. Hansen said she was pleased to see the state was following suit in the near future.

“We had given people in the target groups ample time to come,” she said. “Now it is time to get that out to everyone else. Everyone has been concerned.”

Health officials across the state are urging people to get the vaccine when available, even though trends are showing a decrease of H1N1 in Indiana.

“Please make plans to be vaccinated,” said Sherry Fagner of the Pulaski County Health Department. “Even though there are signs the H1N1 flu is slowing down, it is expected that a second wave of the flu could return sometime between now and March.

“Vaccination is the best tool we have to reduce the spread of this virus.”

Pam Pontones, the state epidemiologist, said state statistics are showing a drop in hospitalizations from influenza-like illness and a reduction in the number of healthcare workers missing work due to flu illnesses. There were no deaths reported last week from influenza-like illness.

“Those numbers are really moving in the right direction,” Pontones said. “We have a tremendous opportunity to try to mitigate any future waves of illness that will occur.”

• Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.



Local H1N1 clinics

The Cass County Health Department will be offering free H1N1 vaccines to all target groups Dec. 11 and Dec. 14 by appointment only. Call 574-753-7760 for an appointment. Target groups include healthcare workers, pregnant women, adults ages 25 through 64 years who have chronic medical conditions, caregivers of those under the age of six months and children from six months to 24 years of age.

The Pulaski County Health Department will be having walk-in clinics for the general public from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 17 at the health department.