City to Give First H1N1 Flu Immunizations

The city’s health department says it has received a limited number of H1N1 swine flu vaccines that will be available to the public very soon.

In a statement released Tuesday, they city says it is making the vaccines available at locations for higher risk patients.

“Most of the vaccine is the intranasal spray variety. There is a very limited amount of injectible vaccine that must be reserved for the highest of high risk,” the statement said.

Those at risk include pregnant women and children with chronic health issues.

Each city immunization site can serve about 250 patients daily, and the selected locations serve high numbers of pregnant women and their preschool children.

Houston’s Department of Health and Human Services says in the past weeks, 85,000 to 100,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine have entered the Houston area, mostly going to private physician offices.

While the city is taking the immunizations seriously, they say H1N1 hasn’t reached high levels yet. They say school absences for the past eight weeks have been well within the normal range for this time of year and local hospitals have not been overwhelmed with influenza cases.

The city adds that there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants in the next several weeks.

-- View the immunization schedule/locations (PDF file, Acrobat required) NOTE: The Alief WIC site will relocate to the Southwest WIC at 6400 High Star. The Northwest WIC site will relocate to the Acres Home Multi-Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery.