Okeechobee County H1N1 vaccine status

Health officials in Okeechobee County announcing, at this point, they are only doling out the H1N1 vaccine to at-risk residents, but the county has already seen one death most likely due to complications from swine flu. So, why not vaccinate all residents right now?

It's a small county with the same fears like thousands in America, "He is not a high risk, but it still makes me nervous," says Amy Davis. She is talking about her two-year-old son. She wants to get him the H1N1 vaccine, but her son's not on the high risk priority list. See, Okeechobee County hasn't received a lot of the vaccine because they have a small population. So, they are really limiting who gets it first. Okeechobee County Health Administrator, Frank Kruppa, says, "We are hoping the Okeechobee community will understand that we are trying to target the high priority groups." Most residents we found aree with that stance. Resident, Oz Colucci, says, "I understand that they are doing it by a priority system, which is important. The people that need to get the vaccine do need to receive that first." Others too agree because they have no desire to get the shot. Resident, Claire Hair, says, "There is not enough research on the vaccine to know what the side effects are going to be, so everyone's holding out wait and see." But, if you live in Okeechobee County and you want the H1N1 vaccine you will have to wait. Right now, healthcare workers, those with underlying health concerns and little kids are the only ones who get it, "We are confident that everyone who wants the vaccine will get it," says Kruppa. Kruppa says they don't know when the average resident can get the vaccine, but the health department urges everyone to be patient and to not go to other counties and take their shots away from those residents.

For the first time next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the county health department will offer a mass H1N1 vaccine clinic for elementary school kids. Later in the year, they hope to have drive-through clinics for everyone else.

TUESDAY, NOV. 3: 4:00-8:00 P.M.

Everglades and South Elementary students

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4 4:00 -8:00 P.M.

North and Central Elementary students

THURSDAY, NOV. 5: 4:00-8:00 P.M.

Osceola Middle School

Seminole Elementary New Endeavor High School's elementary age students

Osceola Middle School's 5th grade

Private school elementary students