Tulsa Health Department H1N1 Vaccinations To Be Offered At Remote Clinics

By Craig Day, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The fight against H1N1 continues across Oklahoma and across Tulsa County. New this week, the Tulsa County Health Department will begin offering walk-in, remote clinics so more people can get vaccinated against the H1N1 strain.

County health department officials say more vaccine doses are on the way. It's the latest step in the flu fight.

The first walk-in clinic will be Thursday at TCC's Northeast Campus from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. That's on East Apache in North Tulsa.

"Hopefully we can accommodate some working parents that can bring their kids in to get vaccinated. We'll continue to host clinics like that throughout the flu season in different areas of the county," said Melanie Christian, Tulsa Health Department.

Because of limited supplies, the H1N1 shots will only be available for high-risk groups like children, pregnant women and parents with children less than six months old.

Health leaders say having locations outside the clinic setting will mean serving more people over a wider geographic area.

"We're trying to make it as accessible as possible to those that meet that high-risk category," said Melanie Christian.

At the same time, shots will continue at elementary schools countywide since the virus is impacting children more than any other age group. Children account for the highest rate of hospitalizations.

"We've tried to look at absenteeism rates to see if there is any one school that stands out, that has a higher absenteeism rate than others," said Melanie Christian.

The number of schools depends on the number of doses the health department gets. This week, that's expected to be 6,000, half going to private providers like doctor's offices and the rest to the health department.

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Health leaders hope to have enough vaccine available for everyone who wants one by the end of November.

For more vaccination information call the Tulsa County Health Department at 595-4500.