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The Arkansas Department of Health is planning additional mass vaccination clinics for the seasonal and H1N1 flu in nearly every county starting next week. The H1N1 vaccine will be available to everyone while supplies last, not just priority groups at higher risk for complications from the virus, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.
Baxter County’s flu clinic is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Baxter County Fairgrounds and Marion County’s clinic is 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Marion County Health Unit. The clinics will be walk-through.
Although there is no charge for the vaccines, participants are asked to bring their health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or ARKids First cards so the health department can file with their insurance providers.
Those who intend to receive a vaccine also are asked to wear proper clothing, such as short-sleeved or loose-fitting shirts, as the shot is given in the shoulder area, said Marion County Health Unit Administrator Judy Martin.
Health officials with the Baxter and Marion county health units said the first round of mass flu clinics conducted in October went smoothly.
The Baxter County Health Unit administered about 8,000 vaccines during its school flu clinics and mass flu clinic, said Louanne McLendon, clinic coordinator. In Marion County, about 3,400 vaccines were given with the help of more than 80 volunteers, Martin said.
At the last mass flu clinics, only a few priority groups at the highest risk for serious complications were able to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
Priority groups include pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers younger than 6, health care and emergency medical services personnel, everyone 6 months to 24 years old, and those aged 25-64 who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Children under age 10 should receive a second H1N1 flu shot and children less than age 9 who have never received a seasonal flu shot before should have a second flu shot, according to the state health department. The first and second shots should be given at least four weeks apart.Statewide, 20 people have died from the H1N1 flu, according to the state health department. Nationally, 1,224 people have died from both seasonal and H1N1 flu from Aug. 30 to Nov. 21, according to the CDCNational information indicates a decline in flu hospitalizations and deaths, although the numbers are high compared to what is expected for this time of year, according to the CDC. During the week of Nov. 15-21, the number of states reporting widespread flu activity declined by 11, from 43 to 32, the CDC reported.
To prevent the spread of the flu, cover your nose or mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and wash your hands frequently, or if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, according to health officials. People also should avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, avoid close contact with sick people and stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone, except to get medical care or other necessities.
OneWorld Community Health Center is looking for 6,000 kids.
The agency that generally provides health care to the underserved has received $706,264 from the federal government to create a program to enroll thousands of children in either of two government insurance programs for low-income children.
Many metro-area children are eligible but aren’t enrolled because their families don’t know the programs exist or don’t know their kids could qualify, said Andrea Skolkin, chief executive officer of OneWorld. That means some of those children are going without health care or are getting far less than they could.
OneWorld’s goal is to enroll at least 6,000 children. The agency’s outreach effort has just begun.OneWorld will place staff members in day care centers, schools, after-school programs, churches, food pantries, organizations and other places.
“We want to be where people are versus making people come to us,” Skolkin said.
They will contact families at those sites and determine whether they have children who qualify but aren’t enrolled in Medicaid or the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The staff members will have laptops to take down information and scanners to scan in citizenship documents and proof of Nebraska residency. Children must be citizens to receive the health care benefits.
The agency also will take referrals. For information, call 502-8888.
OneWorld, based in the Livestock Exchange Building, 4920 S. 30th St., has hired a director and will employ five full-time staffers for the program. OneWorld also has a clinic in Plattsmouth.
President Barack Obama this year allocated $40 million to agencies in 42 states and Washington, D.C., for programs to conduct enrollment efforts over the next two years.
Through a competitive process, OneWorld was one of 69 entities to receive money. Iowa doesn’t have a program among the 69. An additional $40 million will be distributed in 2012.
Enrollment among children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program has gradually risen in Iowa and Nebraska. The economy has worsened and awareness of the programs has broadened, spokesmen in Iowa and Nebraska say.
A child qualifies for Medicaid if his family’s annual income is at or somewhat above the federal poverty level, which is $18,310 for a family of three.
Qualifying for CHIP isn’t as stringent. In Iowa, the state raised the CHIP ceiling this year to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or $54,930 for a family of three. Nebraska raised its income ceiling for CHIP from 185 percent this year to 200 percent, or $36,620 for a family of three.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has estimated there may be close to 15,000 eligible children who aren’t enrolled. The Iowa Department of Public Health estimated there could be as many as 38,000 children who aren’t covered.