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November 12, 2009

Oskaloosa residents continue to ward off H1N1

By ANDY GOODELL

OSKALOOSA — With flu season in full swing, Oskaloosa residents are still lining up to get vaccinated against the H1N1 flu.

Although Tuesday’s H1N1 vaccination clinic at Mahaska Health Partnership was the third to be hosted this flu season, plenty of people showed up to get vaccinated.

Angelica Padilla, 8, and her mother, Toni, both of Oskaloosa, where among those getting vaccinated Tuesday afternoon. Angelica had already received a seasonal flu shot and was determined to avoid getting her H1N1 vaccination the same way.

“I’m not getting the shot,” exclaimed Angelica as she waited in line in the Community Health building on the MHP campus. “Mom’s getting the shot. I’m getting the nasal.”

After filling out a bit of standard paperwork and waiting for a few minutes among others waiting to be vaccinated, Toni and Angelica heard their names called. After being ushered into one of four vaccination stations, Angelica was vaccinated first.

“It tickles a little bit,” said Angelica after inhaling her vaccination.

The entire vaccination process took just 20 minutes for Toni and Angelica, which was typical of the well-organized clinic, said Cassie Riley, MHP public relations and marketing coordinator.

“It runs really fluidly,” said Riley.

Each individual arriving at the vaccination clinic Tuesday was given a numbered sticker to wear like a name tag. This ensured each person who waited for the more than 500 available vaccinations would get one, said Riley.

“We watched what happened in Polk County,” explained Riley. “They had people wait in line for a long, long time. We kind of screen them (for high-risk categories of people).”

The high-risk categories outlined by the Iowa Department of Public Health who are eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine include:

• Pregnant women

• Individuals aged 6 months to 24 years

• Adults age 25 to 64 years who have a compromised immune system due to a chronic illness

• Health care and emergency medical personnel providing direct patient care

• Individuals living with or caring for a child younger than 6 months of age

Riley has been at all three vaccination clinics and said one group she noticed not taking advantage of the opportunity were college students. Many of those at Tuesday’s clinic where parents and their children, such as Toni and Angelica, as well as expecting mothers.

The 24-hour H1N1 hotline established by the IDPH is 1-800-447-1985. For information about H1N1 vaccine in Mahaska County, visit www.mahaskahealth.org.

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com

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