Get ready - Washington and Benton County Health Departments are gearing up for several walk-in and drive-through vaccination clinics for the public this week, but officials say they won't have enough H1N1 flu shots for everyone.
People across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley want to know, when are flu shots coming to their city? To avoid long lines at area pharmacies, one option may be the drive-through clinic at Fayetteville's Drake Field this Thursday. Fayetteville resident Pat Pond describes what it's like: "in the drive in, the driver would get this arm, then the rider would get this arm, then you'd have to get out of the car, turn around, and get the other arm." But in Fayetteville, Health Department officials say because area schools are vaccinating students against H1N1 before the general public, the seasonal flu shot may be the only one Washington County clinics will have, this Thursday. Fayetteville Pharmacist Sarah Frank says it makes sense, when you look at the numbers. "The State of Arkansas only received 17,000 doses for the entire state." Rick Johnson with the Washington County Health Department says he's hoping for another shipment of H1N1 before Thursday's clinic, for either the walk-in clinic to be held at the Jones Center, or the one at Drake Field, but he doesn't know if that will happen. "As we're getting closer, it looks like we won't have enough for everyone. So that's what we're trying to judge on right now. We're still hoping but it doesn't look like it as of today." So for the H1N1 vaccine, many are turning to Benton County's free vaccination clinics available this Friday. The walk-in clinic spots in Benton County will be held at Bella Vista's Riordan Hall, at the Rogers Activity Center in Rogers, and in Siloam Springs at Eastgate Church of Christ. Frank says she hopes the free flu shots help shorten their waiting lists. "This morning I called all of the patients that are on our waiting list for our flu shots, letting them know that we still have ours back-ordered. The H1N1; it is still kind of a mystery of when that one will come out." Pond says staying healthy is essential for many of her elderly friends living alone, so they're carpooling to the clinics that have the H1N1 vaccine. "If they get the flu, a bad case of the flu that really disabled them, it would probably mean they would have to make a change of their living place, and so they're very conscious of getting protected."
In both Benton and Washington Counties, officials say the H1N1 vaccine will go to priority cases first. Those include pregnant women, kids age 5 to 18 with underlying medical conditions, and children 6 months through 4 years.
Aside from the three priority groups, health officials say it's going to be first come, first serve for these vaccines, so try to get to area clinics early, if you can.
Officials add, although the H1N1 flu shot will be free no matter when you receive it, the seasonal flu shot will be free this Thursday and Friday only.
People across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley want to know, when are flu shots coming to their city? To avoid long lines at area pharmacies, one option may be the drive-through clinic at Fayetteville's Drake Field this Thursday. Fayetteville resident Pat Pond describes what it's like: "in the drive in, the driver would get this arm, then the rider would get this arm, then you'd have to get out of the car, turn around, and get the other arm." But in Fayetteville, Health Department officials say because area schools are vaccinating students against H1N1 before the general public, the seasonal flu shot may be the only one Washington County clinics will have, this Thursday. Fayetteville Pharmacist Sarah Frank says it makes sense, when you look at the numbers. "The State of Arkansas only received 17,000 doses for the entire state." Rick Johnson with the Washington County Health Department says he's hoping for another shipment of H1N1 before Thursday's clinic, for either the walk-in clinic to be held at the Jones Center, or the one at Drake Field, but he doesn't know if that will happen. "As we're getting closer, it looks like we won't have enough for everyone. So that's what we're trying to judge on right now. We're still hoping but it doesn't look like it as of today." So for the H1N1 vaccine, many are turning to Benton County's free vaccination clinics available this Friday. The walk-in clinic spots in Benton County will be held at Bella Vista's Riordan Hall, at the Rogers Activity Center in Rogers, and in Siloam Springs at Eastgate Church of Christ. Frank says she hopes the free flu shots help shorten their waiting lists. "This morning I called all of the patients that are on our waiting list for our flu shots, letting them know that we still have ours back-ordered. The H1N1; it is still kind of a mystery of when that one will come out." Pond says staying healthy is essential for many of her elderly friends living alone, so they're carpooling to the clinics that have the H1N1 vaccine. "If they get the flu, a bad case of the flu that really disabled them, it would probably mean they would have to make a change of their living place, and so they're very conscious of getting protected."
In both Benton and Washington Counties, officials say the H1N1 vaccine will go to priority cases first. Those include pregnant women, kids age 5 to 18 with underlying medical conditions, and children 6 months through 4 years.
Aside from the three priority groups, health officials say it's going to be first come, first serve for these vaccines, so try to get to area clinics early, if you can.
Officials add, although the H1N1 flu shot will be free no matter when you receive it, the seasonal flu shot will be free this Thursday and Friday only.
