WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsArea H1N1 vaccine clinics are full

Area H1N1 vaccine clinics are full

Menomonie (WQOW)- H1N1 vaccine clinics at Red Cedar Medical Center in Menomonie are full; no walk-ins will be accepted during clinics scheduled Wednesday and Friday.

The center says by the end of the week, it will have administered all of the two thousand vaccines it has. Clinics have filled up in record time, and that has left many people who aren't able to get the vaccine, frustrated.

Heidi Guy, supervisor of outpatient services at Red Cedar, says, "It's the frustration of not being able to get it, and we feel that frustration here too because we know the public wants it, we want to get it out to them, and we just don't have it."

The Red Cedar Medical Center says no further H1N1 vaccine clinics will be scheduled until additional supplies come in. The center says it's been in contact with manufacturers to get more, but are unsure when those will be delivered. Heidi said, "We are going day by day were to get more shipment in, but the manufacturer has not made us any promises."

More clinics will be scheduled immediately after H1N1 vaccine is received, and those who are at the highest risk of contracting the disease will be the first to get it.

Heidi continued, "Children, Pregnant women and people with chronic diseases will be the first to be vaccinated, that's top priority, to get them immunized."

Health officials say it's clear that supply of the vaccine is falling far behind demand, 200 appointments for this week's H1N1 clinics were scheduled in just twelve hours.

Heidi said, "I think throughout the Midwest the demand is outweighing the supply, because the manufacturers at this time have not been able to keep up with the amount of people that need to be vaccinated."

Red Cedar says they've also seen a 40 percent increase in the number of patients with seasonal flu like symptoms coming through their emergency room.

Hospitals and nursing homes are asking residents to avoid visiting patients if you're not feeling well. Health officials say if you're sick, stay home from work or school until 24 hours after your fever subsides.

For the latest information on Red Cedar's vaccination clinics call the center's flu information line at 715-233-7959.