Mecklenburg County H1N1 Clinics Start Thursday

The Mecklenburg County Health Department will hold a vaccine clinic for people in certain high risk groups, starting Thursday. People who are eligible to be vaccinated are:

-Pregnant women

-People who live with or care for infants under 6 months old

-Children between 6 months and 4 years old

-Children 5 years old to 18 years old with chronic medical conditions

-You must have an appointment for the clinic. The number to call for an appointment is 704-432-5100.

The Department is giving these groups priority because they are considered groups with the highest risk of contracting the virus. Mecklenburg County Health Director Dr. Wynn Mabry says while the vaccine is being produced at a slower rate than the Centers for Disease Control predicted, they are starting to get a steady supply. “The good news is, we think the supply system is starting to pick up now,” he said.

Dr. Mabry says the health department plans to vaccinate CMS students by mid-November, and hopes to get enough vaccine to sustain continual clinics at the Health Department.

On Wednesday, the Mecklenburg County Commission voted to accept $1,790,299 from the CDC to hire additional staff to prepare for and administer the vaccine. “As the supply gets greater, this federal funding allows us to basically contract and build additional personnel, so that we can move faster in the immunization of the community,” said Dr. Mabry.