Jellico Community Hospital offering free Swine Flu vaccine Today

Jellico Community Hospital will be providing free H1N1 flu shots Thursday afternoon. The shots will be given in the community room at the Jellico Library from 2:30 – 5 p.m. for people ages 10 and up.

Kathy Gimbel, a registered nurse at the hospital who specializes in infection prevention, said that the hospital has 200 doses available and that they would be given on a first come, first served basis.

While the focus is on Jellico residents, Gimbel said that no one would be turned away.

The hope is that people in high priority risk groups will get vaccinate first, she said.

Those include people under the age of 25 years old, and people ages 25-49, who have medical problems, such as diabetes, and asthma.

Children under age 10 won’t be vaccinated at the clinic Thursday because they need two doses of the vaccine and because hospital officials feel they should consult with their healthcare provider first, Gimbel said.

She also recommends that pregnant women consult with their healthcare provider before getting a flu shot.

Gimbel said that she has no idea what kind of turnout there will be for the vaccinations since some people really want it and others say they are afraid of it.

She said there is the possibility of another clinic when more doses of the vaccine become available if there is enough public interest.

Hospital officials have had doses of the H1N1 vaccine available for about two weeks and have already vaccinated workers at the hospital, who are in a high priority risk group since they deal with flu patients.

The government has provided the vaccine free to the hospital, and Gimbel said that the hospital is making it available for free as a service to the community.

The Whitley County Health Department began receiving small doses of the vaccine last week, and are vaccinating those in high-risk groups first.

Tamara Johnson, Whitley County Health Department Public Health Nursing Supervisor, said that it will probably be early next month before the vaccine is available for the general public in Whitley County.