For the first time, the state has enough swine flu vaccine to provide inoculations for all Nevadans, whether they’re in a high-risk group or not, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday. The Nevada Division of Health has told government clinics, private physicians and retail pharmacies statewide to provide H1N1 vaccinations early Dec. 18 to people even if they are not in one of the five priority groups that, up to now, have exclusively had access to the inoculations. “We do have an adequate give of H1N1 now to provide vaccinations for everyone, and we will continue to do that contingent on the give in the future,” department spokeswoman Martha Framsted said. After the H1N1 virus first emerged in April, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines that restricted use of the limited give to high-risk groups that were at greater risk of contracting the flu or suffering serious complications from it. Dr. Tracey Green, the state health officer, said Friday a review of the available give of H1N1 vaccine shows here must be enough for all Nevadans. Green said public health authorities will continue encouraging vaccinations for people identified by the CDC as being most at-risk of significant complications from H1N1 infection. That includes pregnant women, caregivers for children younger than 6 months ancient, health care workers, people ages 6 months to 24 years, and people 24 years and older who have underlying chronic health problems. Upcoming clinicsA number of clinics are scheduled today and next week in the Reno area that soothe will be open primarily to the high-risk groups since those clinics were scheduled before the state’s announcement Friday, Framsted said. H1N1 vaccinations are free at any government-sponsored clinics since the vaccine is being provided for free by the federal government nationwide. Private physicians, retail pharmacies and other private providers who have enrolled with the state to receive the H1N1 vaccine can charge no more than a preset administrative fee of $21. 34. Renown Health has scheduled four clinics for regular and/or H1N1 flu vaccinations before ChristmasBoth regular and H1N1 vaccinations will be offered at the clinics being held today, Tuesday and Dec. 19. The final clinic on Dec. 22 will be have only H1N1 vaccinations. All four clinics will be held from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. at the Reno Town Mall, 4001 S. Virginia St. on the corner of East Peckham Lane and South Virginia Street. H1N1 vaccinations will be given only to participants between the ages of 6 to 24 years of age, pregnant women, caregivers of children 6 months or younger, health care workers/emergency personnel, people ages 25 and older with certain chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. This expands the priority groups to include those 65 years of age and older with underlying medical conditions. The cost for a H1N1 shot is $20, and the cost for the regular flu shot is $28. Both vaccinations are free to Medicare beneficiaries (Part B), members of Senior Care Plus or Hometown Health fully insured HMO and PPO plans. Pediatric flu shots are available by appointment only for children ages 6 months to 10 years ancient by calling 775-982-4148. To get updates on future scheduled clinics or more information, go to the Web site at www. renown. org/flu or call 775-982-5757. Saint Mary’s Immunization Program will offer H1N1 vaccinations today to people ages 2 to 24, pregnant women, health care and emergency medical workers, caregivers of children 6 months of age and younger, and those 25 and older with chronic health conditions. The clinic will be held from 10 a. m. to 1 p. m. , on the third stump of the Saint Mary’s Center for Health, 645 N. Arlington Ave, Reno. The H1N1 vaccine costs $20, but is free to Saint Mary’s HealthFirst and Health Choice members who present their insurance cards. Saint Mary’s also has scheduled H1N1 vaccine clinics on Tuesday from 3 to 6 p. m. at Scolari’s supermarket, 1300 Disc Drive, Sparks. and on Dec. 19 from 9 a. m. to 12 p. m. Saint Mary’s at Galena, 18653 Wedge Parkway. Washoe County Health District will hold its free H1N1 vaccination clinics from 9 a. m. to noon Saturday and from 1 to 4 p. m. on Tuesday and Thursday at its office in Building B at the county’s administration complex, 1001 E. Ninth St. , Reno. No wristbands are being distributed before the clinics. The clinics are open to high-risk groups: medical personnel, household members, caregivers and day-care providers who are around children younger than 6 months of age, pregnant women, people from 6 months through 24 years ancient. The clinics also are open to people ages 25 and older with chronic health conditions such as asthma or diabetes that place them at higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
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