Plenty of H1N1 vaccine available in Davis, Weber

LAYTON — The days of waiting in long lines for the H1N1 flu vaccine appear to be over.

The Weber-Morgan Health Department has begun distributing the vaccine to anyone age 6 months or older who wants one.

And in Davis County, about 7,500 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine of the county's current allotment are still available.

Davis County residents can pick up tickets Wednesday and possibly Thursday, if they're not all claimed, for mass vaccination clinics at the Davis Conference Center, 800 W. Heritage Park Blvd.

Health department spokesman Bob Ballew said Davis County received 9,000 doses of the vaccine in its most recent allotment. So far, only 1,500 of the vaccines have been claimed through the department's ticketing process, which guarantees a time and date for a vaccine for residents in the targeted population.

Walk-ins are also welcome at the conference center as long as they fit the criteria for the targeted populations. Children under age 9 who have received their first dose of the vaccine may come in for their second dose, said Bob Ballew, spokesman for the health department.

Residents may check the availability of vaccines through the department's H1N1 hotline, 801-451-3333.

Residents in Weber and Morgan counties who want vaccines can go to the Weber County Fairgrounds exhibit hall, 1000 N. 1200 West, Ogden.

According to Weber-Morgan's hotline, appointment tickets are still available at the fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Weber-Morgan will also distribute tickets from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday for mass vaccination clinics Dec. 8 and 9.

The Weber-Morgan hotline is 801-399-8814.

Davis County eventually will distribute H1N1 vaccines to the general population, Ballew said, but county health officials want to make sure residents in the targeted vaccination population have received their vaccinations.

If people in the targeted population wait to get vaccines, they will have to compete for them against the rest of the population, he said.

People eligible for the vaccine now include pregnant women; those who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old; health care or emergency personnel; children 6 months old to young adults 24 years old; and those under age 64 with chronic medical conditions associated with higher risk of medical problems from influenza.

e-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com

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