H1N1 Vaccines Arrive in Desoto County

HERNANDO, Miss. - The sign on the front door at the Desoto County Health Department in Hernando says it all. The H1N1 swine flu vaccine has arrived and is being given to area residents.

Pat Sylvester with the Desoto County Health Department says, "It should protect you against getting it."

Gerry Oaks and his wife were two of the first ones to sign up and receive the vaccine.

Oaks says, "It's important because with our newborn baby under six months we don't want her to get it."

Because they have a three month old baby they fall into a category the Mississippi State Department of Health is trying to reach out to.

Sylvester says, "Were working on our priorities now."

The high risk categories include pregnant women; children at least 6 months old and less than 5 years old; and anyone who lives with or cares for children younger than 6 months.

According to Sylvester, "Each one of the health departments got about 400 or 500 doses."

In addition to the free H1N1 shots in Desoto County, state health officials will also reach out to 500,000 school aged children in the state starting next Tuesday.

Sylvester says, "At that point hopefully we're going to have the rest of our vaccines and we'll continue across all of our county."

With roughly 1,500 doses in Desoto County, health workers don't expect the supply to last long. However they say once the high risk population is covered, they will have received more vaccines to cover the entire county.

Sylvester says, "Were expected to have enough vaccines to vaccinate anyone who wants to have it done."

And Gerry says it's better to be safe than worry, and the shot was a piece of cake.
"I feel fine! Not a big deal, not at all. Come in, get the shots and go."

Desoto County Health Department:

• Hernando 662-429-9814
• Southaven 662-393-2775
  
• Olive Branch 662-895-3090