More flu vaccine expected

Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 | 9:33 a.m.

The Clark County Health District is set to receive an additional 10,000 doses of flu vaccine and will make them available not only to high-risk individuals.

People at least 50 years old, day care workers, health care workers, school nurses, emergency medical services workers, and household contacts of high-risk individuals will be eligible for vaccines beginning Wednesday, the health department announced.

Vaccines will be available at the Ravenholt Public Health Center, 625 Shadow Lane, near Charleston Boulevard and Interstate 15, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The shipment follows 10,000 doses made available for high-risk individuals Nov. 30. That prompted long lines of elderly patients waiting in the cold outside the Ravenholt clinic.

Since then, demand has diminished. The health district has reported administering more than 15,000 vaccines to date.

The first case of flu in the county was confirmed Nov. 24.

Vaccines continue to be available for high-risk individuals at the Ravenholt clinic. Those include people at least 65 years old, people with underlying chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, nursing home residents, health care workers in direct contact with patients, out-of-home caregivers, and adult household contacts with infants younger than 6 months.

Pediatric vaccine doses are also available at the Ravenholt clinic; East Las Vegas Public Health Center, 560. N. Nellis Blvd., Suite E-12; Henderson Public Health Center, 129 W. Lake Mead Drive, No. 10; and North Las Vegas Public Health Center, 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F.

Vaccination clinics will continue while supplies last. The first flu cases were confirmed in the county Nov. 24. Fore more information, call the Health District at 385-1291.