Fort Bend County Gets H1N1 Vaccine

HOUSTON - Fort Bend County has received almost 17,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, but they're mostly available at private health care providers.

The county's Health & Human Services (HHS) has received less than 1,000 doses. As a result, the county plans to begin administering those vaccines to the highest risk population.

Vaccinations will be available starting Nov. 3 at the Clinical Health Services, 4520 Reading Rd., Suite A in Rosenberg. The clinic is scheduled to be open between 9 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and between 8 a.m. and noon Fridays.

The vaccines are free of charge, and priority will be given to the following groups:

Pregnant women (must bring a prescription from their doctor)
Children ages 2-5 years old
Children 5-18 years old with chronic health conditions
Adults 24-64 years old with underlying medical conditions
People 6 months to 24 years old
Anyone who lives with or cares for a person in high risk group
Health care workers and emergency personnel

County residents who do not fall within the aforementioned criteria should contact their personal health care providers to see if they can get vaccinated through them.

“Everyone who wants to be vaccinated will be when more vaccine becomes available,” HHS director Dr. Jean Galloway said in a prepared statement issued by the county. “We thank the public for their understanding as we serve people most at risk first and for checking with their own health care providers for vaccine availability.”