Sangamon Co. gets 5,000 more doses of H1N1 vaccine

Five thousand more doses of H1N1 flu vaccine have arrived at the Sangamon County Department of Public Health, allowing the department to schedule appointments for shots beyond Thursday.

The health department also announced Tuesday that it has received 6,000 more doses of vaccine for the seasonal flu. As a result, the department has resumed walk-in clinics for seasonal vaccine.

Unlike the system for distributing H1N1 vaccine, anyone regardless of age or risk factors can walk in to the department’s two Springfield facilities and be vaccinated for seasonal flu.

The health department’s seasonal flu-shot clinics at State of Illinois offices, which had been put on hold, also are being re-scheduled. The first re-scheduled clinic will be Nov. 4 at the Stratton Office Building.

The 5,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine are in addition to 2,000 doses of injectable vaccine received previously at the health department.

H1N1 vaccinations are free to people in priority immunization groups, but appointments are required.

Although some people have gotten busy signals when calling for appointments, the appointment format is allowing more than 500 vaccinations to be given each day, officials said.

“The appointment system seems to be working very well,” health department director Jim Stone said Tuesday.

He asked for the public’s patience when they call. Callers who don’t receive a busy signal should allow the line to keep ringing until an operator answers.

People eligible to receive H1N1 vaccine must be in one of several groups: pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months, health-care and emergency-medical services workers, all people from 6 months through 24 years of age, and people ages 25-64 who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

More than 50 other health-care providers in Sangamon County, including doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies, eventually will receive H1N1 vaccine shipments.

Memorial Health System and Springfield Clinic already have received limited shipments of the nasal-spray version of the vaccine.

Public health departments are providing the vaccine at no charge, but private health-care providers are allowed to charge an administration fee for the vaccine. The vaccine itself is paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Illinois Department of Insurance announced Tuesday that Illinois’ largest private health insurers have voluntarily agreed to cover any administration costs associated with the H1N1 vaccine. Those insurers are Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, CIGNA, Health Alliance Medical Plans, Humana, PersonalCare, Unicare and UnitedHealthcare.

State officials said consumers should contact their insurance company, insurance agent or employer to clarify the details and limits of coverage.


Walk-in clinics for seasonal flu vaccine

*Sangamon County Health Department, 2501 N. Dirksen Parkway:

-- 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 6 p.m. on Mondays

-- 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

*Sangamon County Health Department, 1415 E. Jefferson St:

-- 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

-- 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 6 p.m. Thursdays

The charge for seasonal vaccine is $32. People who present Medicare or Medicaid cards aren’t charged.

Appointments for H1N1 flu vaccine:

*Call 753-3333 to make appointments. Calls answered between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The shots are free to Sangamon County residents in priority groups to be immunized against H1N1 vaccine: Pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months, health-care and emergency-medical services workers, all people from 6 months through 24 years of age, and people ages 25-64 who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

About the Author:

Quoting & Saving just got easier...EasyToInsureME Health Insurance United Healthcare