CHICAGO -
More local governmental units are making free swine flu shots available.
Beginning today, the DuPage County Health Department is offering the spray vaccine. Only the spray form is available, and that isn't recommended for pregnant women or others with underlying medical conditions.
A supervisor at the department's call center said this morning she did not know when swine flu shots will be available, although the department's hotline says it will be in a few days.
Today's spray vaccine will be administered at the county's Health Department in Wheaton beginning at 4 p.m. The number to schedule an appointment is (866) 311-1123. Other times, dates, and locations are posted here. The clinics will be administering sprays until Nov. 8.
A reporter who called this morning to make an appointment for an inoculation had to wait 20 minutes to talk to an operator, who said the next available appointment was Oct. 31.
He said the scheduling is designed to inoculate six people every five minutes. He couldn't estimate the number of calls he had taken overnight, but said the phones were ringing off the hook. He said a person doesn't have to be a DuPage County resident to be eligible.
Lake County's Web site says it will begin vaccinations Oct. 29.
Meanwhile officials in Lake County, Ind., told the Northwest Indiana Times they do have the vaccines and have been giving inoculations since Monday. The free inoculations are offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at the Government Complex's administration building, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point. Call: (888) 416-1284.
Earlier, the Chicago Department of Health announced that beginning Saturday morning free H1N1 swine flu shots for city residents will be made available on a regular basis at six city college locations.
And the Will County Health Department said free inoculations would be made available to county residents beginning Oct. 28 at these locations:
But at the same time, delays in the delivery of the H1N1 flu vaccine have forced school districts in the Chicago area and elsewhere to postpone or scale back inoculations scheduled to begin as early as this week for children.
FINDING A SWINE FLU SHOT:
Beginning today, the DuPage County Health Department is offering the spray vaccine. Only the spray form is available, and that isn't recommended for pregnant women or others with underlying medical conditions.
A supervisor at the department's call center said this morning she did not know when swine flu shots will be available, although the department's hotline says it will be in a few days.
Today's spray vaccine will be administered at the county's Health Department in Wheaton beginning at 4 p.m. The number to schedule an appointment is (866) 311-1123. Other times, dates, and locations are posted here. The clinics will be administering sprays until Nov. 8.
A reporter who called this morning to make an appointment for an inoculation had to wait 20 minutes to talk to an operator, who said the next available appointment was Oct. 31.
He said the scheduling is designed to inoculate six people every five minutes. He couldn't estimate the number of calls he had taken overnight, but said the phones were ringing off the hook. He said a person doesn't have to be a DuPage County resident to be eligible.
Lake County's Web site says it will begin vaccinations Oct. 29.
Meanwhile officials in Lake County, Ind., told the Northwest Indiana Times they do have the vaccines and have been giving inoculations since Monday. The free inoculations are offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at the Government Complex's administration building, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point. Call: (888) 416-1284.
Earlier, the Chicago Department of Health announced that beginning Saturday morning free H1N1 swine flu shots for city residents will be made available on a regular basis at six city college locations.
And the Will County Health Department said free inoculations would be made available to county residents beginning Oct. 28 at these locations:
- Plainfield Central High School, 24120 West Fort Beggs Drive, Plainfield, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Nov. 16.
- Joliet Central High School, 201 East Jefferson Street, Joliet, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 29 and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 21.
- Brooks Middle School, 350 Blair Lane, Bolingbrook, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 30 and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 24.
- Joliet West High School, 401 North Larkin Avenue, Joliet, noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 1 and Nov. 22.
- Hickory Creek Middle School, 22150 116th Avenue, Frankfort, 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Nov.4 and Dec. 2.
- Lockport East High School, 1333 East 7th Street, Lockport, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 9 and Nov. 30.
- Crete-Monee High School, 1515 West Exchange Street, Crete, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov.10 and Dec. 1
- Plainfield Central High School, 24120 West Fort Beggs Drive, Plainfield, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 28 and Nov. 16.
- Joliet Central High School, 201 East Jefferson Street, Joliet, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 29 and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 21.
- Brooks Middle School, 350 Blair Lane, Bolingbrook, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 30 and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 24.
- Joliet West High School, 401 North Larkin Avenue, Joliet, noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 1 and Nov. 22.
- Hickory Creek Middle School, 22150 116th Avenue, Frankfort, 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 4 and Dec. 2.
- Lockport East High School, 1333 East 7th Street, Lockport, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 9 and Nov. 30.
- Crete-Monee High School, 1515 West Exchange Street, Crete, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 10 and Dec. 1.
But at the same time, delays in the delivery of the H1N1 flu vaccine have forced school districts in the Chicago area and elsewhere to postpone or scale back inoculations scheduled to begin as early as this week for children.
FINDING A SWINE FLU SHOT:
- COOK COUNTY: Student vaccinations for Palatine Elementary School District 15 are tentatively scheduled for October 29-30. Evanston Township High School will offer clinics for students and staff November 12-13. The county health department is still finalizing its schedule of flu clinics for the public.
- LAKE COUNTY: Walk-in-only clinics for county residents in high-risk groups starts October 29 at five sites. For more information go to: lakecountyil.gov/health/h1n1.htm.
- DUPAGE COUNTY: Starting today by appointment only, call: (866)311-1123. ProtectDupage.org
- KANE COUNTY: Walk-in clinics for high-risk people are scheduled for next three Monday's at 9 locations. For more information, go to: www.kanehealth.com
- MCHENRY COUNTY: No flu clinic schedules announced. For more information, go to: www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/health
