The Mat-Su Public Health Center started vaccinating two through 18-year old children against the swine flu this week.
The center has received 520 doses of nasal spray last week. Mat-Su Public Health Nurse manager Jane Conard said there are more than 200 doses left and available for healthy children between 2 and 18 years of age. The vaccine is free. As there are no swine flu vaccinations yet available in Talkeetna, Conard encourages folks to come to Wasilla and get the vaccine today and Friday from 1 pm to 7 pm.
The vaccine is in form of nasal spray and can only be given to healthy children without pre-existing conditions. Kids must bring their parents or legal guardian and their immunization records. Children recently vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, the seasonal flu and varicella may have to wait to get the swine flu vaccine as it is a live virus vaccine. Conard said that she did see folks from Talkeetna visiting the swine flu vaccination clinic in past days. She added that Mat-Su Public Health is totally out of the seasonal flu vaccine. It is unknown when the next batch of seasonal and H1N1 vaccine arrives in the upper valley.
The Mat-Su Public Health Center is located at 3223 East Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Call for updates and a recorded message after 5 pm at 352-6600.
