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More groups eligible for H1N1 shots

ELKHORN — More people are eligible to get swine flu vaccinations this week in Walworth and Rock counties.

State guidelines have been expanded to include all people age 6 months to 24 years.

And public health officials in Walworth County said they will not turn away anybody, although they’re asking residents to let people in high-risk groups go first.

Walworth County Health Officer Pat Grove said there is still not enough vaccine for all those who want it. So she is asking residents to keep in mind those who need it most.

“If parents come in with children, we’ll give it to them,” Grove said.

In Rock County, Public Health Nursing Director Janet Zoellner said county officials are instructed to continue vaccinating only the target groups.

“We are asking people who are not in the risk categories to please wait to make sure those who are most susceptible get it first,” she said.

Officials in Rock County are not asking those who come in to be vaccinated to prove their sickness, but they are hoping they will be honest, Zoellner said.

“Some things are fairly obvious,” she said. “We do ask them if they have a health condition. We’re not asking them to prove it, though. We are trusting their opinion.”

Until this week, the guideline from Wisconsin officials was to vaccinate only pregnant women, caregivers of infants younger than 6 months, healthcare providers and emergency care personnel and people age 24 to 64 with underlying medical conditions.

Now, any person age 6 months to 24 years is eligible.

Walworth County had about 2,000 doses of swine flu vaccine as of Tuesday afternoon. Rock County had about 2,500.

Grove said county officials are working with schools to provide the nearly 18,000 school-aged Walworth County children with vaccination. Scheduling and locations should be available in the coming days, she said.

Rock County officials are also setting up clinics at area schools and should have more details this week, Zoellner said.