Public Health-Madison & Dane County distributed H1N1 vaccines to more than 6,000 target group patients at the Alliant Energy Center during a two-day public clinic last week.
Jeff Golden, the organization’s spokesperson, said organizers were prepared to give around 5,000 shots each day. Tuesday’s clinic brought in around 1,000 people, so Public Health-Madison & Dane County attempted to increase immunization to account for the less-than-expected turnout.
“What we wound up doing that day when we had our news coverage of it was putting out the word that we expanded our target groups to basically make sure that people got the vaccine,” Golden said. “We expanded the target groups to anybody with an underlying condition of any age.”
Approximately 40 percent of the immunizations fell under this category of adults with underlying health conditions. This expansion gave older citizens the opportunity to get the vaccine, Golden said. Other target groups included pregnant women and young children.
With extra material for H1N1 immunization, Golden said although specific plans are not yet available, Public Health-Madison & Dane County anticipates holding more clinics in the future.
“As more vaccine becomes available, we are certainly planning opportunities to make sure the vaccine gets out,” Golden said. “The last thing we want to do is have it sit on the shelf.”
Sarah Van Orman, director of University Health Services, said UHS was planning on making the H1N1 vaccine available to all students under 24 at no cost. Van Orman also said UHS would be having a large clinic the first weekend after Thanksgiving break.
Unlike Public Health-Madison & Dane County distributing vaccines to specific target groups, UHS plans to make the vaccine available on a first-come, first-served basis, Van Orman said.
Van Orman added though the numbers have died down, UHS still sees a high daily amount of students sick with influenza-like illnesses.
“It’s affecting school work and academic performances,” Van Orman said. “It’s calmer than it was, but it’s still really impacting campus.”
UHS hopes students will attend the clinics after Thanksgiving break to help prevent another possible large outbreak early in the spring semester.
