The Wood County Health Department has scheduled two additional H1N1 flu clincs for this week.
The health department expects to receive 1,400 doses of injectable vaccine and an additional 1,000 doses
of the flumist form of the H1N1 vaccine today. Some of the injectable doses will be pre-filled,
thimerosal-free doses for children 6 to 35 months. The rest will be pre-filled syringes approved for
ages 4 and up that contain a trace amount of thimerosal.
For pregnant women only, there will be a clinic on Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Huntington Bank
Building at Bowling Green State University located off of Dunbridge Road. Only pregnant women will be
vaccinated at this clinic, not children or spouses. “Pregnant women are one of the high risk groups and
cannot receive the flumist form of the vaccine. We also know they cannot always stand in long lines. For
this reason, we wanted to set-up a clinic for them,” said Pam Butler, Health Commissioner. “We also want
people to know that we will only give the vaccine to pregnant women at that clinic. So as much as
possible, they should not bring their kids or anyone else with them.”
The vaccine that will be available contains a trace amount of thimerosal. Some people are concerned about
the belief that there is link between thimerosal and autism. No studies have confirmed this link. To
allay fears and increase vaccination rates, some manufacturers are producing thimerosal free vaccine.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that pregnant women can receive either the
thimerosal-containing vaccine or the thimerosal-free form.
For anyone in one of the high risk groups, there will be a clinic Friday 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the BGSU
location. This clinic will have both the injectable and the flumist forms of the H1N1 flu vaccine. The
vaccine is intended for high-risk individuals including health care workers and EMS workers who provide
direct patient care; pregnant women; people who live with or care for children less than 6 months; all
people 6 months to 24 years; and people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions.
The health department will also be holding two previously scheduled clinics this week:
• Wednesday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at the Perrysburg High School Cafeteria, 13385 Roachton Road.
• Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Baltimore Main School (124 S. Second Street)
Both of these clinics will be for the flumist only form of the vaccine. No injectable vaccine will be
available.
Volunteers have helped at all of the clinics. “Our Medical Reserve Corp volunteers have really stepped up
and have helped us tremendously,” Trish Benarth, Emergency Planner and MRC Coordinator. “We’ve had
nurses and EMTs offer to help give injections or the mist. Others have helped with traffic flow, set-up
and tear down. We still have day-to-day operations to maintain so having these volunteers is essential
for us to continue with these clinics.” Volunteers from both the Community Emergency Response Team and
the American Red Cross have also helped.
People who are interested in volunteering can contact Benarth at (419) 352-8402. A half-day MRC training
is being arranged and is required to allow volunteers to have liability coverage. Both non-medical and
medical volunteers are needed.The Wood County Health Department has scheduled two additional H1N1 flu
clincs for this week.
The health department expects to receive 1,400 doses of injectable vaccine and an additional 1,000 doses
of the flumist form of the H1N1 vaccine today. Some of the injectable doses will be pre-filled,
thimerosal-free doses for children 6 to 35 months. The rest will be pre-filled syringes approved for
ages 4 and up that contain a trace amount of thimerosal.
For pregnant women only, there will be a clinic on Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Huntington Bank
Building at Bowling Green State University located off of Dunbridge Road. Only pregnant women will be
vaccinated at this clinic, not children or spouses. “Pregnant women are one of the high risk groups and
cannot receive the flumist form of the vaccine. We also know they cannot always stand in long lines. For
this reason, we wanted to set-up a clinic for them,” said Pam Butler, Health Commissioner. “We also want
people to know that we will only give the vaccine to pregnant women at that clinic. So as much as
possible, they should not bring their kids or anyone else with them.”
The vaccine that will be available contains a trace amount of thimerosal. Some people are concerned about
the belief that there is link between thimerosal and autism. No studies have confirmed this link. To
allay fears and increase vaccination rates, some manufacturers are producing thimerosal free vaccine.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that pregnant women can receive either the
thimerosal-containing vaccine or the thimerosal-free form.
For anyone in one of the high risk groups, there will be a clinic Friday 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the BGSU
location. This clinic will have both the injectable and the flumist forms of the H1N1 flu vaccine. The
vaccine is intended for high-risk individuals including health care workers and EMS workers who provide
direct patient care; pregnant women; people who live with or care for children less than 6 months; all
people 6 months to 24 years; and people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions.
The health department will also be holding two previously scheduled clinics this week:
• Wednesday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at the Perrysburg High School Cafeteria, 13385 Roachton Road.
• Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Baltimore Main School (124 S. Second Street)
Both of these clinics will be for the flumist only form of the vaccine. No injectable vaccine will be
available.
Volunteers have helped at all of the clinics. “Our Medical Reserve Corp volunteers have really stepped up
and have helped us tremendously,” Trish Benarth, Emergency Planner and MRC Coordinator. “We’ve had
nurses and EMTs offer to help give injections or the mist. Others have helped with traffic flow, set-up
and tear down. We still have day-to-day operations to maintain so having these volunteers is essential
for us to continue with these clinics.” Volunteers from both the Community Emergency Response Team and
the American Red Cross have also helped.
People who are interested in volunteering can contact Benarth at (419) 352-8402. A half-day MRC training
is being arranged and is required to allow volunteers to have liability coverage. Both non-medical and
medical volunteers are needed.