Vaccine

Eyewitness News has put together a list of what how several Kansas counties are distributing the H1N1 vaccine. First, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has updated the list of priority groups: The groups include: Pregnant women People living with or caring for infants younger than six months old Health care and emergency workers Children aged 5-18 years old who have chronic health conditions ...

By Angela Smith (SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.) Sedgwick County receives its first shipment of the H1N1 vaccine. The first batch of the H1N1 nasal-spray flu vaccine will go to hospital personnel. A demonstration will be held on Tuesday at the Via Christi-St. Francis, in which the nasal-spray will be distributed. Kansas health officials will also be on hand to discuss the safety and importance of the H1N1 vaccine.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Swine flu vaccinations will start arriving in Kansas later than state officials had initially predicted. Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Maggie Thompson said Tuesday that shipments of the vaccine should be arriving in the next few days. Last week, KDHE officials said the vaccine should arrive at local health departments early this week, and they predicted the first vaccinations would be administered Tuesday or Wednesday. But Thompson said the process is complicated for ordering vaccines and getting supplies to the providers who will administer it. The state had to allocate the supplies among counties, which then placed orders.

By Eyewitness News (WICHITA, Kan.) The Sedgwick County Health Department's H1N1 Vaccine Clinic's last day of operation will be Friday, March 26. This means that individuals who have not yet received the H1N1 vaccine have only one week left to visit the clinic. The vaccine clinic is located at 4095 E. Harry; regular clinic hours are: Monday: CLOSED Tuesday: 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday: 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday: 2 to 6 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday: CLOSED The county cites decreased demand as the primary reason for the closure.

by Robert Marin (HAYS, Kan.) Health Departments across Kansas continue to receive shipments of H1N1 Flu Vaccine and are working on distributing those vaccines to high-risk groups. But, officials stress is you want a vaccine you need to be patient since supplies are limited. Seward County Health Department: says they are receiving about 400 doses of the H1N1 vaccine a week. Most of those are being given to health care workers and pregnant women. They are also planning a clinic at a Liberal elementary school Thursday for students whose parents already filled out consent forms.

By Angela Smith (SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.) The H1N1 vaccine is not available to the public just yet. But when it is officially released, schools will be one place your child can get the shot. Sedgwick County announced the partnership Friday evening. The H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available in early October. Flu clinics will be set up at the following schools: Annoor Islamic School Bishop Carroll Catholic High School Cheney Public Schools Derby Public Schools Friends University Haysville Public Schools Heartspring School Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School Newman University Wichita Adventist Christian Academy Wichita Public Schools Wichita State University The schools and districts listed above will only be providing the H1N1 vaccine to their students.

by Robert Marin (WICHITA, Kan) National health officials are recalling hundreds of thousands of doses of H1N1 vaccine, after tests indicated they may not be potent enough to protect against the virus. The Centers for Disease Control notified doctors and health departments about the recall Tuesday. It involves about 800,000 doses intended for young children ages six months to three years. Health officials already recommend children those ages get two doses about a month apart.

By Jennifer Searle (SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it will start sending monthly releases focused on getting different groups vaccinated with the H1N1 vaccine. It says one of the highest priority groups is people with chronic conditions. Health experts say racial minorities tend to have chronic health conditions, including diabetes and heart conditions. People with chronic conditions can develop complications from the H1N1 virus.

They're hard to miss. "You see the signage on street corners, in some stores you may see t-shirts," says J'vonnah Maryman. It seems retailers will advertise flu shots just about anywhere. "In public health of course we are excited there are so many providers of flu vaccine," says Maryman. J'vonnah Maryman, Sedgwick County's Associate Director of Preventive Health, has seen them all. "That means there is a higher level of accessibility for people to be able to access flu vaccines," says Maryman.

Kansas health officials confirm the ninth death in of a person infected with the H1N1 flu virus. A 62 year-old man from northeast Kansas had underlying health conditions that put him at greater risk for serious complications from the virus.  The H1N1 virus was determined to be a contributing factor in the man's death.  Laboratory testing conducted yesterday confirmed that the man had the H1N1 virus. "This death reminds us that this virus can be extremely severe for people with underlying health conditions," Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas State Health Officer said.

Wichita parents could see their kids turned away from school today.  That's because today was the cut-off for students to have their shots up to date. The rule affects all children who attend Wichita Public Schools.  Students must have all of their shots up to date, or a letter from their doctor explaining why. Students can also forfeit vaccines for religious reasons, as long as parents send in a signed note. School nurses have been busy notifying parents since last Spring about the changes.

Fall is here, but that also brings us closer to flu season and doctors are repeating their annual advisory to get vaccinated. Doctors say almost everyone should get a flu vaccine, but it is especially important for pregnant women, children, seniors and people with pre-existing conditions that might put them at higher risk of complications. They also note there are some common misconceptions about the vaccine. Doctors say you cannot get sick from the shot, since it contains an inactive form of the virus.

Vaccines not only protect your children from disease, they are required to head back to school later this month.  If your child's back-to-school list doesn't include the required vaccinations, swing by one of two special clinics August 6: 9 a.m. to noon, 2716 W. Central 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1156 N. Oliver The Sedgwick County Health Department will offer all childhood and adolescent vaccinations, so parents are reminded to bring...

Due to a recent change in Kansas vaccination requirements, more school-age children will need additional chickenpox vaccinations before the start of the 2011-12 school year. The Sedgwick County Health Department wants to help ease financial burden by extending its offer of free varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for children between the ages of 10 and 18 . The free vaccine will now be offered through the end of June at 2716 West Central. A sliding fee scale is available for those under the age of 10 who qualify.

They're hard to miss. "You see the signage on street corners, in some stores you may see t-shirts," says J'vonnah Maryman. It seems retailers will advertise flu shots just about anywhere. "In public health of course we are excited there are so many providers of flu vaccine," says Maryman. J'vonnah Maryman, Sedgwick County's Associate Director of Preventive Health, has seen them all. "That means there is a higher level of accessibility for people to be able to access flu vaccines," says Maryman.

University of Kansas student pharmacists will offer free seasonal flu vaccines for people 9 years old and older this weekend. The shots will be offered Saturday, October 9 from 9 a-m to 3 p-m at the Guadalupe Clinic, at 940 S. St. Francis in Wichita. Roughly 16-hundred fre facine does will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

By John Boyd (SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.) Today is the last day to get an H1N1 vaccine through the Sedgwick County Health Department's Vaccine Clinic. The Health Department says residents should know that the flu threat is not gone and that cases of H1N1 were still being confirmed in Sedgwick County this week. The vaccine clinic is located at 4095 E. Harry. and will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. After today, the remaining H1N1 vaccine will be available at the West Central Health Department location (2716 W. Central)

by Kim Hynes (SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.) 25% of Sedgwick County residents were vaccinated for H1N1. The county health department updated county commissioners Wednesday.  Health officials say the community has just finished its second wave of the H1N1 flu and a third wave is not expected. Sedgwick County H1N1 Flu Information H1N1 surfaced in Sedgwick County May 1st. Since then, 4 people from Sedgwick County have died plus another 24 people state wide.

by Robert Marin (GARDEN CITY, Kan.) Pet owners in the Garden City area will be able to get free vaccinations for their animals. The Garden City/Finney County Animal Shelter and Finney County Humane Society will provide free parvovirus and distemper shots during a series of clinics. The clinics will be held at the animal shelter at 124 Fleming St. on the following days: March 27: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. April 24: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. May 22: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Pet owners are asked to bring their animal's shot records with them.