Parents who brought their children to get vaccinated on Sunday got a surprise when they were allowed to be vaccinated as well at Missoula's H1N1 clinic.
Thanks to more than enough vaccine, Missoula's health department was able to help more people than expected and Sunday's clinic was eventually open to anyone who wished to be vaccinated.
The previous clinics targeted people in risk categories or of a certain age, but now after months of a limited supply, anyone can be vaccinated.
Ellen Leahy with the Missoula City County Health Department says she doesn't know what the H1N1 virus will do during flu season. But, she says they have more than enough vaccine now and people should take advantage of it.
Leahy told us she's glad Sunday's clinic had the opportunity to help even more than originally expected.
"It's going really great today we're having a wonderful turnout from the public which is great on a cold day, and more than half of our staff are volunteers so they're not only helping they're making this entire event possible."
Sunday was the first time that volunteers from Hellgate High School lent a hand and Leahy says they helped the event run smoothly and hopefully learned something new.
This was 2009's last large clinic in Missoula, but Leahy says there will be more opportunities to be vaccinated by appointment.
You can schedule an appointment by calling the Health Department's H1N1 hotline at 258.6436.
- Allyson Weller reporting from KPAX in Missoula
(from December 5, 2009) The Missoula City County Health Department is hosting yet another H1N1 Flu Clinic, this one for all young people ninth grade thru 24 years of age on Sunday.
The clinic is Sunday at Sentinel High School from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Pregnant women, children and young adults age 6 months to 24 years are invited, as well as people who live with children under 6 months and people age 25 to 64 years who are at a higher risk for H1N1 due to chronic illness.
The clinic will be similar to the one held in late November, people with last names starting with A-L should show up between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., while those whose last names start with M-Z should arrive between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Health Department continues to hold their ongoing clinic at Paxson and Harve in Missoula. The clinic is for children who need their second does of the vaccination age 9 and under.
Pregnant women, children 10 to 14 years old, people age 15 to 64 with chronic medical conditions and health care workers also may utilize the ongoing clinic.
(from December 1, 2009) It's the first day of December and the start of the regular flu season.
Missoula Health Promotions Director Greg Oliver says during the upcoming dry colder months influenza has a better chance to spread.
He says there is a good chance we'll see an up surge in H1N1 cases because of holidays and the flu season from now until the end of February.
Missoula's Health Department will hold the last large free H1N1 clinic of 2009 at Sentinel High School on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The clinic will be similar to the one held in late November, with Missoula City-County Health Department officials asking that folks with last names starting with A-L show up between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., while those whose last names start with M-Z should arrive between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Sunday's clinic is for the following groups:
- Pregnant women
- Children and young adults 6 months through 24 years
- People who live with or care for children under 6 months
- All health care and emergency medical service personnel
There is also an ongoing H1N1 vaccination clinic at the corner of Paxson and Havre, which is open Monday to Thursday from Noon until 5:00 p.m.
Health officials advise that the ongoing H1N1 clinic is for the following groups:
- Those 9 and under needing first or second vaccination
- Pregnant women
- Children 10 to 14 year olds
- People aged 15- 64 years with chronic medical conditions
- Household members and caregivers of children 6 months and younger
- Health care workers
Missoula County residents must call (406) 258.4636 to schedule an appointment for the ongoing H1N1 clinic.
Additional information about H1N1 events in Missoula County can be found by calling the Missoula City-County Health Department's H1N1 Info Hotline at (406) 258.4636, or by clicking here.
- Mark Thorsell reporting from KPAX in Missoula
(from November 23, 2009) School kids across Missoula County are sporting Sponge Bob and princess band-aids Monday after a big H1N1 vaccination clinic which was held on Sunday.
Health officials report that 1,500 youngsters braved the shots or nasal mist that will protect them against the swine flu. Things ran smoothly at the clinic in the Sentinel High School gym.
The next big clinic is scheduled for December 6th. And at this point, the clinic will be open to people high school aged through 24 but that's still a developing situation.
Additional information about H1N1 events in Missoula County can be found by calling the Missoula City-County Health Department's H1N1 Info Hotline at (406) 258.4636, or by clicking here.
The H1N1 flu has been a huge issue this year and we haven't even reached the heart of flu season.
But thanks to the efforts of the Missoula City-County Health Department, more and more people are being vaccinated in Missoula.
Just over a month ago, the H1N1 clinics started out a little rocky, with limited vaccine and long lines.
But now, things are going much smoother. Health officials say that around 1,500 kids were vaccinated by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at Sentinel High School.
The first few H1N1 clinics in October had long lines, and some people complained of over four hour long waits.
Now a little over a month later, the clinics are running smoothly and people are in and out in about an hour.
"It's been a very fast process going through it and it's been very organized and stuff" said 12-year-old Tasha Bradshaw.
"They were very well organized it was very quick and we were kind of anticipating maybe long lines and it was just so smooth and they did a great job" added parent Jed Liston.
"Its nice to be out of that trickier first period of time where we had to have a little bit of vaccine here and a little bit of vaccine there" Public Health Officer Greg Oliver told us.
During Sunday's clinic, volunteer nurses vaccinated healthy children from 5 years old to kids in eighth grade. And with the fast paced clinic, kids could stop worrying about how they would occupy their time, and were forced instead to deal with shot anxiety.
"When I got the shot, they guy told me to keep my arms relaxed and stuff, but I kind of wanted to get the shot over with" said Will Gray, 8. "What really kind of scared me before I got the shot is he squeezed it and all the juice came out."
Oliver says that over the next six weeks more people will receive season vaccines but in different individual private settings as opposed to large clinics like Sunday's. He's encouraging people to get vaccinated for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu.
The next H1N1 clinic will also be held at Sentinel High School on December 6th. It will be open to high school students to 24-year old adults.
- Allyson Weller reporting from KPAX in Missoula.
(from November 17, 2009) The Missoula-City County Health Department has announced that an additional H1N1 vaccination clinic has been scheduled.
A large vaccination clinic for Missoula County children from 5 years old through eighth grade will be held on Sunday, November 22nd at Sentinel High School.
The clinic will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for families with last names starting with A-L, and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for people with last names starting M-Z.Those planning to attend should park in the Bancroft parking lot and follow the signs.
The Health Department will have information about H1N1 vaccine and parent/guardian consent forms available at the clinic. Parents should plan to accompany their child to the clinic and complete the paperwork onsite. Sunday's immunizations are free of charge.
Sunday's H1N1 vaccination clinic is being held in addition to the ongoing, appointment only, event at the old Dahle's Big and Tall building, south of Southgate Mall, at the corner of Paxson and Harve streets.
The ongoing, appointment only, clinic is for the following people who are Missoula County residents:
- People aged 5 - 64 years with chronic medical conditions
- Pregnant women
- Children 6 months to 4 year olds
- Children 9 years of age and younger who are due for their 2nd shot, if it has been at least 21-28 days since their initial shot. Call for clarification.
- Household members and care takers of children 6 months and younger.
The shots are available until Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Additional information about other possible clinics can be obtained by calling the Missoula City Health Department at (406) 258.4636, or by clicking here.
- Mark Thorsell reporting from KPAX in Missoula
