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ENLARGE
Kirstine Enlow of Rifle, holds her son, Aaron, as he gets an H1N1 flu shot on Thursday morning, Nov. 5, at the Garfield County Health and Human Services Department in Rifle from Public Health Nurse Linda Maggiore.
The line of people ran all the way down the hallway of the Rifle Public Health Building on Thursday, Nov. 5 as people waited — some more than an hour — to get an H1N1 vaccine.
Day-long clinics were held in both Rifle and Glenwood Springs and more than 1,000 people were vaccinated.
Another flu clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21, in both Rifle and Glenwood Springs and this time an additional priority group of people can receive the vaccine.
“Several efforts have been made to vaccinate those at highest risk of complication from the virus and we are now able to open up vaccine availability to a larger number of people,” said immunizations manager Sara Harter.
The new group includes those age 25-64 years old who have chronic health conditions, such as asthma or other lung disorders, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes or other disorders that may compromise the immune system.
Others eligible for the vaccine include pregnant women people who live with or take care of children younger than six months old, an all health-care workers, including school health.
According to Carrie Godes with Garfield County Public Health, only a few ineligible adults were turned away at the last clinic.
“The community is being understanding,” Godes said. “We only had to turn away five people.”
Public Health is receiving shipments of the H1N1 vaccine each week and will be distributing to physician's offices as it become available and encouraging them to vaccinate their high risk patients.
“Because more vaccine will be available at local physician offices, we won't be making appointments for people to get their H1N1 shot a Public Health right now,” Harter said.
People are still urged to protect themselves and others from getting the flu by washing their hands, covering coughs, staying at home if sick and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
Day-long clinics were held in both Rifle and Glenwood Springs and more than 1,000 people were vaccinated.
Another flu clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21, in both Rifle and Glenwood Springs and this time an additional priority group of people can receive the vaccine.
“Several efforts have been made to vaccinate those at highest risk of complication from the virus and we are now able to open up vaccine availability to a larger number of people,” said immunizations manager Sara Harter.
The new group includes those age 25-64 years old who have chronic health conditions, such as asthma or other lung disorders, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes or other disorders that may compromise the immune system.
Others eligible for the vaccine include pregnant women people who live with or take care of children younger than six months old, an all health-care workers, including school health.
According to Carrie Godes with Garfield County Public Health, only a few ineligible adults were turned away at the last clinic.
“The community is being understanding,” Godes said. “We only had to turn away five people.”
Public Health is receiving shipments of the H1N1 vaccine each week and will be distributing to physician's offices as it become available and encouraging them to vaccinate their high risk patients.
“Because more vaccine will be available at local physician offices, we won't be making appointments for people to get their H1N1 shot a Public Health right now,” Harter said.
People are still urged to protect themselves and others from getting the flu by washing their hands, covering coughs, staying at home if sick and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
