WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Latest on local H1N1 vaccine
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LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW)- The good news is the H1N1 vaccination clinics are beginning to become more prevalent in La Crosse County.
The bad news is those who need the vaccine the most because they are at the highest risk for complications from H1N1 aren’t showing up as well as medical providers had hoped.
Today, a news conference was held at the La Crosse County Health Department to address this problem.
Healthcare providers want to administer the vaccine to as many at high risk people as possible to prevent a spread of H1N1.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, it is especially important to get vaccinated.
Engelland says, “We're just concerned that with larger groups of people gathering together we will have more spread of the illness we will see another peak of H1N1.”
The La Crosse County Health Department says they hope to vaccinate the broader population soon, but in the meantime will continue to vaccinate those at high risk.
Although there hasn’t been an increase in H1N1 cases in the community, it can come in waves.
So, healthcare providers say it’s best to take steps to protect yourself and get vaccinated when possible.
Gundersen Lutheran and Franciscan Skemp are vaccinating more people with the H1N1 vaccine.
Following the guidelines of the Wisconsin Department of Health, the hospitals will include people age 19 through 64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu-related complications.
With this addition, these people are now being vaccinated
Those 5-64 years old with certain medical conditions, pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants six months or younger, children age six months to four years old.
Gundersen Lutheran will also be vaccinating healthcare and emergency medical services personnel.
Gundersen Lutheran's clinic and hospital will hold a H1N1 clinic tomorrow for the high-risk target groups.
It will be on Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Gundersen Lutheran will also hold clinics on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week from 8:30-6:00 p.m.
Franciscan Skemp will be holding their flu shot clinic at their La Crosse campus until 7:00 p.m. Thursday and then Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at their Onalaska Clinic.
