Flu vaccines ready to go

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Flu vaccine has been shipped to New Mexico Public Health Offices resulting in early flu clinics for senior citizens being scheduled in Cibola and McKinley counties.

There should be enough flu vaccine for everyone again this year, the early shipments, however, will be restricted to the elderly at senior centers and high risk individuals, said Sally Vick, RN, director of nursing for Public Health —Region 1, which includes Cibola and McKinley counties.

The first clinic is a scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Grants Senior Center on Wednesday, Oct. 17, said Lou Mazon, RN, public health nurse in Grants.

The Department of Health, shipped about 13,000 adult doses of flu vaccine including 25,000 pediatric doses beginning Oct. 3, according to information provided to the Independent from DOH.

An additional 8,000 doses were shipped this week, with Grants and Gallup receiving nearly their entire allotment of flu vaccine for the season.

“Immunization clinics on Tuesdays beginning Nov. 6, will be by appointment only. Too many people have had to wait too long to get immunizations when the clinic was walk-in, so we are now going to an appointment system,” Mazon said.

The public will have to call (505) 285-4601 to schedule an appointment for immunizations in Grants, she said.

“We are trying to cut down on the long waits,” she said, noting that between 1-4 p.m., on those previous Tuesday immunization clinics the wait was entirely too long for too many people.

Patients will still have to bring parents' signatures, immunization records and their Medicare or insurance cards, she said.

Vick said there are several flu shot clinics planned for the four senior centers in McKinley County in addition to the one in Grants.

Flu shots will be given to seniors age 65 and older at the senior centers, and those persons who are high risk should get a flu shot, but should go through their own doctor, she said.

The schedule of flu shots at senior centers in McKinley County are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the following locations and dates:

• Thoreau Senior Center, Wednesday, Nov. 7.
• Ramah Senior Center, Thursday, Nov. 8.
• Northside Senior Center, Friday, Nov, 9.
• Ford Canyon Senior Center: Friday, Nov. 16.