NEWS 25 - WEHT: Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro-Counties Look To Expand H1N1 Vaccinations

Counties Look To Expand H1N1 Vaccinations

story by Jennifer Cahill

TRI-STATE - Up until now, the H1N1 vaccine has been only for those in Tier 1: pregnant women, children, caregivers to those under 6 months, and people with weakened immune systems.

Now Tri-State health departments are about to widen the target group.

For the first time since the H1N1 vaccine became available, a clinic in Vanderburgh County had no waiting.

In the first four hours, fewer than 100 people trickled in.

"We haven't had quite the crowd we've had in the past. We're not quite sure what to make of that at this point," says Vanderburgh County Health Department coordinator, Chris Allen.

It could have been because the clinic was only for pregnant women, like Laura Kunkel.

"It scares you, you know, thinking that possibly it could cause death. And the stories we hear locally too," Kunkel says of why she got the vaccine.

Or it could be that most of those in the first tier wanting the vaccine, have gotten it.

"Our next clinic is Thursday from two to six at the CK Newsome Center," Allen says. "Last week there, there were 1400 vaccines, long lines. I think we'll be able to tell a lot by the crowds that show up there. "

If the crowd is small Thursday, Allen says the health department will consider opening up the clinics to those in Tier 2: anyone 25 to 64.

"25 to 64 years of age and all those in Tier 1 who've not received their shots. Again, that all depends on what we receive, and we don't know what we get until we get it," says Warrick County's H1N1 coordinator, Frank Hijuelos.

Hijuelos says Warrick County is already planning to switch to Tier 2 vaccinations at next Tuesday's clinic.

Opening the clinics up to those in Tier 2, however, creates the unknown all over again.

"The target population is somewhat unknown, so we're keeping our fingers crossed we'll get enough in to cover it," Hijuelos says.

Allen says Vanderburgh County's supply of the vaccine has picked up significantly in the past two weeks.

He says clinics are scheduled through December, even on Saturdays. Those dates will be released soon.

For more information on all clinic dates and times, click on "Tracking H1N1" in the toolbox.