Swine flu vaccines available in Carson

Swine flu vaccinations will be available at the Carson City community health clinic starting today for people considered to be at a higher risk of contracting the disease, the Carson City Health Department announced Wednesday.

H1N1 vaccinations will be available at the community health clinic, 900 E. Long St., every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The vaccines are free and no appointment is necessary, but are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Local health officials will also administer swine flu vaccines to Carson City elementary students enrolled in early childhood education to fifth grade on Oct. 28 and 29 at all elementary schools. Schools will send packets home with students for parental consent.

The city has received about 2,500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, most of them the FluMist version that contains live strains of the virus, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began distributing them about two weeks ago amid growing concerns over the influenza strain that is affecting younger populations.

The vaccines are being delivered to Carson City once a week.

Meanwhile, vaccinations for the general public will available on an unspecified date later this fall, Carson City health officials said.

The Southern Nevada Health District also reported Wednesday its 13th death caused by the H1N1 virus after a 31-year-old woman who had contracted the disease died despite no underlying medical conditions.

Marena Works, director of Carson City Health and Human Services, said the focus remains on the priority groups deemed most vulnerable to the H1N1 virus.

She said eventually everyone who wants a swine flu vaccine will be able to get one in the "weeks and months to come."

"Supplies are coming in pretty good, there's not a shortage per se," Works said. "It just takes a long time to get this vaccine out."

The priority groups that are urged to get the vaccine now are:

• Pregnant women

• People who live with or provide care for infants 6 months or younger

• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel

• Children and young adults 6 months to 24 years of age

• People 25 to 64 years of age who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications, such as heart, kidney, lung diseases and compromised immune systems.