County to offer flu shots

NEW CUMBERLAND - Hancock County residents who missed a mass swine flu vaccination clinic earlier this month haven't missed their chance to protect themselves against the virus.

Hancock County Health Department Administrator Jackie Huff said H1N1 vaccines will soon be available at the department's 102 North Court St. offices in New Cumberland. Beginning Jan. 8, the department will offer free inoculations to the general public each Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

No future mass swine flu clinics are planned in that county, according to Huff, though she said one held Dec. 17 at the New Cumberland Fire Department "went very well." That clinic was the first offering of the vaccine to Hancock County residents outside the "high-risk" demographic groups initially given priority.

Huff said more than 600 people were inoculated at that clinic, noting it was "well-received" by the public. She said she was pleased with how things went.

"Of course, I would like to vaccinate the whole county," she said. "But I felt that was a good turnout."

Of those vaccinated at that clinic, Huff said about half received nasal doses of the vaccine from two of the 13 lots affected by the most recent recall, which came about when it was discovered 4.7 million doses of nasal vaccine were losing their potency.

Huff stressed the recall is a "non-safety issue," adding the only people who need to receive a second dose are children ages 6 months to 9 years who have yet to get the recommended booster.

Nursing Director Michelle Truax said those in Hancock County who received recalled vaccine - from lots 500762P and 500776P - are still adequately protected against the H1N1 virus. She noted the recall simply means those lots have a shorter shelf life than non-recalled doses, adding it's likely all recalled doses were administered while the vaccine still was at full strength.

According to Huff, all of the 300 or so doses in Hancock County affected by the recall were used at the clinic, so no more vaccine will be pulled from the shelves. She said the health department has about 2,500 additional doses in stock.