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Health department offering influenza vaccinations

By Caroline Trowbridge - | Oct 5, 2005

Sylvia Burns is cautiously optimistic that the county’s health department will have sufficient doses of flu vaccine this year.

Burns, the department’s director, said on Monday that she has received one shipment of vaccine.

“I’m expecting another one in anytime,” she said.

Unlike last year — when a shortage of flu vaccines caused a panic among those seeking the vaccines — Burns is hopeful that all Leavenworth County residents who want a vaccine will get one.

“There’s not supposed to be a shortage this year,” Burns said. “They’re being very, very careful, and they’re sending it to us in increments. I have not received anything that said we would not get what we asked for.”

This week, Burns’ staff began traveling the county, offering influenza and pneumonia vaccines to high-risk adults and children.

For the next few weeks — until Oct. 24 — flu vaccinations provided by the health department will be given only to people who are one of these groups:

  • People 65 and older.
  • Residents of long-term care facilities.
  • People who are between the ages of 2 and 64 who have chronic health conditions.
  • regnant women.
  • Health-care workers who provide direct patient care.
  • Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children younger than 6 months.

After Oct. 24, Burns said, people who are not in a high-risk group may receive the vaccination from the health department.

While supplies last, the Leavenworth County Health Department will give flu and pneumonia vaccines to members of high-risk groups:

¢ 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. today at the Leavenworth County Council on Aging, 111 Delaware, Leavenworth.

¢ 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 18, Leavenworth High School, 2012 10th Ave., Leavenworth.

¢ 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 19, Leavenworth County Health Department, 500 Eisenhower Rd., Suite 101, Leavenworth.

¢ 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 20, Easton Grade School, 20753 Easton Rd., Easton.

Opening it up

After Oct. 24, the health department will open up its distribution of flu vaccines to people who do not fall into a high-risk group. The department has two clinics scheduled after Oct. 24:

¢ 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 25, Basehor-Linwood High School, 2108 N. 155th St., Basehor, for school staff and the public.

¢ 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 26, Tonganoxie Middle School, 300 E. U.S. Highway 24-40, for school staff and the public.

¢ In addition, beginning Nov. 2, vaccinations will be available from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Leavenworth County Health Department, 500 Eisenhower Rd., Suite 101, Leavenworth.

The costs

The cost for flu vaccine is $18, while pneumonia vaccine is available for $25. Payment can be made with cash, check or Medicare Part B.

Children who are 3 or younger require a physician’s written permission.

For more information, call the health department, (913) 250-2000.