ARDMORE, OK -- The full court press is on for health officials this weekend. They're trying to get H1N1 vaccinations to as many people as they can by holding what health officials have deemed the H1N1 Blitz. Austin Wright has more.
Stormi York is one of the many mothers who isn't taking any chances when it comes to the H1N1 virus, and the doctors at the Carter County Health Department are glad to see her.
That’s because Stormi is pregnant, which puts her in what health experts say is the priority vaccination group. Her son is here to get his H1N1 shot, too. He is also part of the target demographic health officials are trying to vaccinate during this weekend's H1N1 blitz.
York is glad to be vaccinated, but wishes she and her son could have gotten their shots sooner.
"This is late in the season for us. Usually we have it done and taken care of, but with everything going on this year, a lot of people are out of the shots, so it took us a little while to get it," York says.
Medical clinics all over the state will be participating in this weekend's mass vaccination effort for the target population. If you haven't received your H1N1 vaccine yet and you fall into one of the target categories: pregnant women, children from the ages of six months to eighteen years, front line health care workers who are in daily contact with the H1N1 virus, and adults ages nineteen to sixty four with chronic medical conditions, your local clinic wants to see you.
Carter County nurse Clarizza Carroll is hoping priority patients take advantage of the weekend H1N1 Blitz.
"The Saturday blitz is from nine o'clock to one, or until we run out of the vaccine for the target population to get to the health department and get the vaccine. What we will be providing this Saturday is the h1n1 shot and we also have some vaccines for children," Carroll says.
Medical officials say for those that don't qualify for the weekend blitz, you won't have to wait long. The Department Of Health says that fresh supplies of vaccines are on the way.
For more information about the availability of H1N1 influenza vaccine in your area, call your local county health department or visit www.health.ok.gov, or call the Oklahoma State Department of Health toll-free H1N1 hotline at: 1-866-278-7134. Phones are answered Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
Locations:
Ada
Pontotoc County Health Department
1630 East Beverly
8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Ardmore
Carter County Health Department
405 S. Washington
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Durant
Bryan County Health Department
1524 W. Chuckwa
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Pauls Valley
Garvin County Health Department
1809 South Chickasaw
8 a.m. - Noon
Sulphur
Murray County Health Department
730 Cambridge Drive
8 a.m. - Noon
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