By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis – St. Louis County health officials say they have received a shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine, and will begin vaccinating the public against the illness.
The county announced Wednesday that it will offer free H1N1 flu vaccinations on Saturday to county residents at five area high schools.
The county says that very limited supplies means that for now, preference will be given to pregnant women, children 6 months to 4 years old, caregivers of infants under 6 months, youth 5 to 18 years with underlying health conditions, and emergency medical service personnel and health care workers.
The vaccinations will be available from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Saturday, November 7. Numbered tickets for a place in line will be given out beginning at 7 a.m.
Here is a list of locations:
-Hazelwood West High School
-Jennings High School
-Lafayette High School
-Lindbergh High School
-Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School
County Health Department Director Delores Gunn says another 23,000 doses will go out to school districts, pediatricians, and obstetricians in the next 10 days, but not as many doses as needed. Gunn says the county would need 200,000-300,000 more doses to vaccinate the entire population. She says more doses will be coming and the county plans free clinics in December and January as well.