Local schools to host H1N1 vaccine clinics

GREENCASTLE -- The Putnam County Health Department, in partnership with the Putnam County Hospital, will be conducting H1N1 flu vaccine clinics for Putnam County children and students ages 6 months to 19 years at local schools in the coming weeks.

Clinics will be held simultaneously on Monday at both the Cloverdale High School and Cloverdale Middle School from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The H1N1 "shot" vaccine will be available at this time to these students. All students will need to have a vaccination consent form signed by a legal guardian in order to receive the vaccine.

An evening clinic will be held at the Cloverdale Middle School Monday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. for children younger than middle school age and other children whose parents need to be present. Both the H1N1 vaccine "shot" and the nasal "mist" vaccine will be available at this time.

A clinic will be held on Tuesday at the South Putnam Senior/Junior High School from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The H1N1 "shot" vaccine will be available at this time to high school and junior high school students. All students will need to have a vaccination consent form signed by a legal guardian in order to receive the vaccine.

Evening hours will be 3:30 to 7 p.m. for children younger than junior high school age and other children whose parents need to be present. Both the H1N1 vaccine "shot" and the nasal "mist" vaccine will be available at this time.

Clinics at the North Putnam and Greencastle schools will be held the following week on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

The Health Department urges the parents of children who have already received the H1N1 vaccine to ask their school system to remove submitted consent forms and to ensure their children do not receive a duplicate vaccination.

Questions regarding this clinic and H1N1 response in Putnam County can be referred to the Putnam County Health Department at 653-5210.