HUDSON—The Columbia County Health Department has received a few hundred doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine and is now scheduling appointments to administer the vaccine to people who are in the top priority groups, according to an October 23 health department press release.

Some primary care providers may also have received this vaccine.

The department may has taken a proactive approach in gearing up for the H1N1 Novel flu vaccine distribution to a targeted population, says the release.

Columbia County schools have begun to send home letters along with H1N1 vaccine information sheets and consent forms to allow time for parents to review vaccine information about H1N1 and to make an informed decision about whether or not their child should receive the vaccine.
Clinics will not be scheduled until the health department receives returned consent forms, the hope is to begin giving the vaccine to school age children in early November.
This should allow time for consent forms to be turned in and time for the schools to prepare for the clinics, says the release.
Health department officials hope that this will be a positive joint effort in promoting wellness in children. By protecting children the community is also protected, the release concludes.