H1N1 Vaccinations Continue

The Gulf County Health Department (GCHD) is continuing to administer free H1N1 vaccines to people in the following priority groups:

* Pregnant women

* Caregivers and family members of infants six months and younger

* Individuals six months to 24 years old

* People 25 to 64 years old with chronic medical conditions

* Health care workers

* Teachers and childcare workers

* Essential county employees

* Utility personnel (power, gas and water)

* Emergency medical personnel

There is no charge and no administrative fee for H1N1 vaccinations but there is a charge for seasonal flu shots. Anyone in the above groups can make an appointment at either of the county health departments (Port St. Joe and Wewahitchka) to get an H1N1 vaccination.

According to GCHD operations manager Clarissa Herndon, the health department has been administering H1N1 vaccinations to priority groups for the past two weeks. Health department staff set up PODs (Points of Distribution) at schools in Wewahitchka and Port St. Joe to inoculate students who had signed permission slips from their parents, including faith-based school students.

Herndon said health department staff vaccinated several hundred students during the PODs, and almost 80 percent of the students enrolled in North Florida Child Development.

Beginning Nov. 16, the health department will begin conducting PODs to administer H1N1 vaccinations to the general public. The exact times and locations will be announced soon, Herndon said.