Published: November 02, 2009 11:06 pm         

Health Department reaches out for help with H1N1 vaccine

TERRE HAUTE — The Vigo County Health Department has reached out to local health care providers and pharmacies to assist in the H1N1 vaccination of Vigo County residents. Multiple health care providers and several local pharmacies are on board to help administer the H1N1 vaccine to county residents, beginning with the five target groups set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The target groups are:

• First responders and emergency workers;

• Pregnant women;

• Caregivers/parents of children 6 months of age and younger;

• Individuals 6 months to 24 years of age;

• Individuals 25 to 64 years of age who have a compromised immune system.

Walgreens is one of the local pharmacies that has expressed interest in offering the H1N1 vaccine to Vigo County residents and will be a provider for the H1N1 vaccine. On why Walgreens is assisting the Health Department, pharmacist Steve Myers said, “It was simple, we wanted to help the Vigo County Health Department vaccinate the public against the H1N1 virus.”

Several physicians’ offices also have shown an interest in lending a hand for this effort. Dr. Richard Reed of Terre Haute Regional Hospital was one of them. Reed said, “From our experience in years past with giving the seasonal flu vaccine, our patients would rather come to our office and receive the vaccine than go elsewhere. This is the reason why we chose to offer the H1N1 vaccine. Our patients are most comfortable receiving the vaccine from us, their primary care physician, and it’s convenient for them to receive it here.”

If you are a Vigo County physician or pharmacy and would like more information about becoming a provider for the H1N1 vaccine, contact the Vigo County Health Department at (812) 462-3428, Ext. 6270.