Wake County expects 10,000 H1N1 shots

Raleigh, N.C. — Wake County health officials expect to distribute 10,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine by the end of the month. Officials said the doses will be sent to clinics, doctors and pharmacies.

One of the areas that has seen large shipments of the vaccine in recent weeks is North Carolina State University. The university offered a clinic on Wednesday to distribute several thousand doses to students, faculty and staff.

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Triangle clinics offer H1N1 shots

“We’ve received more vaccine than probably anyone in Wake County, part of that is because of our population. With 33,000 students, about 25,000 of those qualify as 24 and under, which is a priority group,” Student Health Center Director Jerry Barker said.

Priority groups to receive the H1N1 vaccine are:

• pregnant women
• caregivers and people who live or work with children under 6 months old
• health care and emergency medical services personnel
• people 6 months to 24 years of age
• persons 25 to 64 years who have health conditions associated with a high risk of medical complications from the flu

If the university has any extra vaccine, they plan to donate it back to Wake County.

Durham, Orange counties offer clinics

The Durham County Public Health Department held a vaccination clinic Wednesday for children to get protection from the H1N1 flu.

A limited number of Thimerosal-free injections were available for free starting at 1 p.m. at 414 E. Main St.

Shots are limited to children between the ages of 6 and 36 months. Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Julia Hamberger and her daughter traveled from Holly Springs to get the vaccine in Durham.

"I wasn't able to find it there. Even our doctor's office said that we would need to look elsewhere and so I just looked around and happened to find this today," Hamberger said.

Michelle Schalliol got her 2-year-old child vaccinated, but not her 4-year-old because he was too old. She said she planned to get her 4-year-old vaccinated somewhere else.

The Orange County Health Department has received more than 400 doses of the H1N1 vaccine. The doses will be administered through appointment-only.

Cumberland County to hold clinic next week

The Cumberland County Public Health Department will host vaccination clinics Nov. 12, from 3 to 7 p.m. and Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to noon at 227 Fountainhead Lane.

The county is targeting pregnant women, people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, people who live with children under 6 months old and those with underlying medical conditions.

The vaccine will be available free on a first-come, first-served basis.