Vaccines for kids

Butte County Public Health coordinated a school-based H1N1 flu vaccine clinic at Las Plumas High School in Oroville Tuesday (Nov. 3).

The after-school event was the first in a series of clinics to be conducted countywide, as the agency works with school districts to help protect children, who are most vulnerable to the swine flu.

Public Health will not disclose the exact locations of the clinics—14 school-based events planned around the county—though officials did say they would be offered during afternoon and evening hours, or on weekends, throughout November. Instead, parents will be notified of the date, time and place by each school district. They can also contact their district for information.

Dr. Mark Lundberg, Butte County’s health officer, said the department was concerned about a rush on the clinics by out-of-district parents. As of the first event, the agency had 5,700 vaccines to administer. Healthy kids at least 2 years old will receive the nasal spray vaccine. Limited doses of the killed-virus vaccine (a shot) will also be available.