|
As many as 10 clinics may be held.
Maplewood will receive more than twice the federal funding for Swine Flu shots this
fall as originally expected, according to Health Officer Robert Roe, who added that the first public clinic could be given
on Halloween.
"We expect we will be pretty busy," Roe said about the clinics, which will start in late
October. "I could see us doing it on Halloween."
Roe plans to tell the Township Committee Tuesday that
the federal funding, originally estimated at $36,000, is now likely to be $76,000.
He said that will primarily
be for the cost of administering the shots,
which may take place over as many as 10 different clinic days. He said the
clinics will be held on Saturdays, Sundays and in the evenings.
With Oct. 31 on a Saturday this year, it could
be the date of the first public clinic.
"They don't normally give us that much money," Roe said of the
federal government. "But they consider this a priority."
He would not say how many shots will be given,
noting it will be based on demand. But he said as many a 10,000 could receive them.
Those considered priority
patients will get the first shots. Among them: pregnant women, residents 6 months to 24 years old, residents living with children
six years old or younger, and anyone with an underlying health condition.
"We can't give everyone a shot,
we are required to give them to the first priority first," he said.
Private physicians will also be distributing
the vaccines, Roe added, some through a nasal spray. Some of them will have them as early as next week.
|
