The Nodaway County Health Department is doing its part to safeguard Maryville’s health.
The Health Department has scheduled walk-in H1N1 vaccine clinics for almost every weekday this December. The exceptions are next Monday and Friday, which are seasonal flu clinics. Also Dec. 21-22 and 28-31 are H1N1 clinics for school-aged children only. The Health center will close Dec. 23-25 for Christmas. The clinics begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.
Vaccine limitations and bad weather might cancel some of these clinics. The Health Center will continue to hold the scheduled clinics as long as the supply of vaccine lasts. They will also close in the event of a weather storm warning.
Although the Health Center suggests a donation of $15, these clinics charge no fees for the vaccine. This is possible because the government has purchased and supplied both the vaccine and the equipment to state and local health departments across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, providers are not permitted to charge for the vaccine itself.
However, according to the same Web site, private providers may charge insured patients in order to cover the costs of administering the vaccine.
The Health Center paired up with Northwest Missouri State University on Tuesday to provide a free clinic for Northwest students. The University Wellness Center hosted the clinic.
“After they treated high priorities, children and pregnant women, we approached them about vaccinating students,” Judy Frueh, clinical supervisor, said.
The University Wellness Center administered 82 vaccines on Tuesday of the 300 they had in stock Frueh said.
“I wanted to get the vaccine just in case,” John Plummer said. “There’s no reason not to.”
Some people were more worried than reassured by the vaccines, however.
“I don’t want it because you never know what those chemicals might do to you,” Denise Dibben said. “I’ll take my chances with the flu.”
Dibben isn’t alone in her fear. People have often debated the safety of any sort of vaccination, not merely the H1N1 vaccine. However, the CDC says that the H1N1 vaccine is just as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine and strongly suggests people take advantage of the free vaccination.
The Wellness Center will continue to provide vaccines on a daily basis until supplies run out. Students are asked to make appointments for their vaccinations, but walk-ins are accepted.
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