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School swine flu clinics start today

JANESVILLE — Rock County health officials say they finally have enough swine flu vaccine to begin school-based clinics in each Rock County district starting today.

The first clinic is scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m. today at Marshall Middle School in Janesville. If school is canceled because of today’s expected snowstorm, the clinic will be canceled, too.

Health officials have heard a lot of people ask if it’s too late to get a swine flu shot, said Janet Zoellner, Rock County Health Department nursing director.

“It’s not too late,” she said.

The latest wave of H1N1 flu has crested, but officials are expecting another wave in late winter or early spring, nursing supervisor Sancee Siebold said.

“It’s still worth getting the vaccine because if we have that third wave, then they’ll be protected,” Siebold said.

Historically, pandemics appear in at least three waves of illness, Zoellner said. While the timing of a third wave is unknown, it likely would coincide with the regular flu season, she said.

The department Monday received 3,700 doses of vaccine, by far the most it’s received since weekly shipments began in October.

The school clinics are to vaccinate people from 6 months to 24 years of age and other priority groups previously encouraged to get the vaccine.

The shots are free, but parents must be present with minor children.

Children under 10 need two doses. The second dose is given by appointment, usually 21 to 28 days after the first, depending on which type of vaccine the child receives.

Residents do not need to live in the school district to be vaccinated.

Mass clinics in each of the county’s school districts had been scheduled to begin in late October, but the vaccine shortage forced officials to cancel the clinics.

SWINE FLU CLINICS

The Rock County Health Department will begin school-based swine flu clinics today. The clinics are:

-- 3 to 6 p.m. today at Marshall Middle School cafeteria, 25 S. Pontiac Drive, Janesville.

-- 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at J.C. McKenna Middle School cafeteria, 307 S. 1st St., Evansville.

-- 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Parkview Junior/Senior High School cafeteria, 106 W. Church St., Orfordville.

-- 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Beloit-Turner Powers Elementary School cafeteria, 620 Hillside Ave., Beloit.

-- 3:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Edgerton Middle School, 300 Elm High Drive, Edgerton.

-- 3:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Beloit Memorial High School cafeteria, 1225 4th St., Beloit.

-- 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Clinton Town Hall, 8647 County X, Clinton.

-- 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Milton High School, 430 E. High St., Milton.

Seasonal flu vaccines also are available by appointment by calling the health department at (608) 757-5440. For more information, call the H1N1 flu hotline at (608) 741-5200 or visit rock.co.wi.us.