Time for our shot
Bolingbrook H1N1 flu vaccine clinic expected to draw big crowds
Today, Bolingbrook will be the center of the fight against H1N1 flu in Will County.
The Will County Health Department will hold an H1N1 flu vaccine clinic from 3 to 9 p.m. at Brooks Middle School, 350 Blair Lane.
Another clinic will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Nov. 24 at Brooks Middle School.
More than 2,000 people, mostly parents and their children, flocked to Plainfield Central High School on Wednesday to get free H1N1 flu mist vaccines.
People began lining up outside the school at 1:30 p.m., even though the health department's first of seven flu clinics didn't start until 3 p.m., said health department spokesman Brian McDaniel. The wait for an inoculation was about three hours long.
Even with the huge turnout, the scene at Plainfield Central was orderly as parents and their antsy kids waited outside in a long line. Once inside the building, adults filled out paperwork and headed into the school's cafeteria for the vaccine.
Nurses stationed at numerous tables calmly dispensed the nasal spray. The process was simple: Tip your head back, wait for the mist, sniff, grab a tissue and disinfect your hands with antibacterial gel.
It wasn't a shot -- but for some of the younger kids, no amount of reassurance by parents could ease their fears.
"It doesn't hurt honey; it's not a shot," nurse Cathie Bielec said, trying to calm one boy.
But it didn't work. Although an adult had him in a vise grip, the boy wriggled and screamed until his wails dissolved into a phlegm-choked gasp. Finally, he came up for air and Bielec was able to dispense the mist.
"I think there's just a big concern on the part of families," he said. "What we saw in the spring was it was the young kids who were affected. The elderly are not on a priority list right now for this vaccine. It's affected young children and adolescents."
Will County's first H1N1 death was a 47-year-old Naperville resident, but younger people in Sandwich and Naperville have died, too.
Vaccine supplies are low right now, and that probably spiked demand as well, Cicero added.
Eventually, when more vaccine becomes available, it will be more widely available at pharmacies, private doctors' offices and other medical clinics, Cicero said.
"There's going to be a lot of places to go," he said. "But right now, we're the only game in town."
The department received a limited quantity of thimerosal-free H1N1 flu vaccine late Wednesday afternoon.
Thimerosal is a mercury-containing organic compound used as a preservative in vaccines since the 1930s.
This new thimerosal-free vaccine is recommended exclusively for children between 6 months and 35 months of age.
This vaccine, along with the previous allotment of nasal spray mist, will be dispensed during upcoming community vaccination clinics.
Because the department only had the mist Wednesday, the Plainfield clinic was limited to healthy people ages 6 months to 24 years old or 25- to 49-year-olds who care for infants 6 months and younger.
People over age 49 with chronic health conditions must get the flu shot at a later date when it becomes available, which could be any day, McDaniel said.
"If you have a chronic health condition, the flu mist you cannot take," he said. "If you have diabetes, if you have asthma, if you have chronic heart disease or if you're pregnant, you cannot take this (mist) vaccine."
Earlier this week, Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital announced it would place restrictions on visitors due to concerns about the spread of H1N1. The hospital said it made the decision based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We are asking for everyone's help in keeping our staff, patients and community safe," said Kathy Mitchell, vice president and chief nursing officer.
According to the policy, any visitors who have symptoms of influenza or who recently had influenza should not come to the hospital. The recommendation is that individuals stay home for three days without fever or use of medication to reduce fever before going back to work, school or visiting a hospital.
Because children under age 12 have immature immune systems, they are restricted from visiting patients in the hospital, officials said.
"We appreciate your understanding of this change to our family-centered visiting policies," Mitchell said. "Once the threat of H1N1 is reduced, we will reimplement our child-friendly visiting policies."
H1N1 was also a big topic of conversation at the Valley View School District 365U board meeting this week.
Larry Randa, director of school and community relations, said that the flu is on the minds of district officials.
"It's here. There's no doubt it's here. It's with our staff," Randa told the board. "The fact is we have already had more than two dozen probable cases of H1N1 flu reported among Valley View School District students and staff."
Whether H1N1 becomes a major public health storm or something less serious, Randa said the district continues to prepare.
"Hundreds of hours of staff time for preparation have been spent," said Superintendent Phillip Schoffstall.
"Things have changed since our first Internet post about H1N1 in May," said Cathy Rigali, coordinator of health services for the district. "People accept that it's a widespread flu. Our guideline is that unless you are hospitalized, you have a 'probable case' of the H1N1 flu."
Randa said the H1N1 procedures are similar to how the school district has always handled the seasonal flu.
For example, based on the recommendation of both the Will County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no public announcements will be made about the existence of specific, probable H1N1 cases in any building.
Randa also outlined that "per the directives of local and national health authorities, no buildings will be closed."
If a significant number of probable H1N1 cases are reported in one facility, and if a significant number of staff absences are involved, Randa said that's when the Will County Health Department, the superintendent's office and the president of the school board will revisit the policy about closing buildings.
Randa reiterated the prevention safeguards for any kind of flu.
"At the base of all efforts is an emphasis on 'best health practices.' Clean your hands by frequently washing them with hot water and soap; cover a cough or a sneeze with your elbow, not your hand; and contain the virus by staying home if you're sick," Randa said.
In the end, Randa said, people need to keep the disease in perspective.
"It's the flu. People are going to get it," he said. "We all need to live with that and move on."
