FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 24, 2009
DHEC regular seasonal flu clinic in Sumter Saturday
COLUMBIA - Saturday’s regular seasonal flu clinic in Sumter will immunize people in target groups for regular seasonal influenza with vaccine the agency currently has in stock, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
“Those in target groups for regular seasonal flu include people 50 and older, caregivers for children or the elderly, pregnant women, children and adults with ongoing health problems and children ages 6 months to 18 years,” said Jerry Gibson, M.D., chief of DHEC’s Bureau of Disease Control. “Appointments have already been made for the available pediatric doses so Saturday in Sumter we will be concentrating on providing flu shots to adults. We have ordered more pediatric vaccine for the seasonal flu some time ago. We expect to get it soon.”
Dr. Gibson said the vaccine provided at Saturday’s clinic is not for novel H1N1 flu, which is the virus that is causing flu cases currently being seen.
“The vaccines are not the same and there are differences in the diseases even though they are both the flu,” Dr. Gibson said. “We will hold clinics and take appointments for the Novel H1N1 shots just as soon as our first doses of vaccine arrive in South Carolina. Since there are different vaccines for adults and children, the first Novel H1N1 vaccine clinics will depend on which vaccines we are sent first.”
Dr. Gibson said only part of regular seasonal flu vaccine shipments have arrived and been distributed. As more is delivered to DHEC from the manufacturers it will be sent immediately to the eight DHEC regions, 46 county public health departments and partner providers. A similar process is being established for the distribution of H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available next month.
“Whether it is the regular seasonal flu shot or the shot for H1N1 flu, talk with your healthcare provider to determine the right time to get your flu shots,” he said.
For more information about Saturday’s regular seasonal flu clinic in Sumter or to schedule an appointment for another time, call toll-free 1-866-411-5767.
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For more information:
Thom Berry - (803) 898-3885
E-mail - berrytw@dhec.sc.gov
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