The City of Milwaukee Health Department has learned that its anticipated allotment of injectable H1N1 vaccine will not be available through the federal government until possibly early November due to production and distribution delays. That means only a very limited supply of injectable vaccine on hand which will be distributed accordingly. The health department has scheduled vaccination clinics for Friday and Saturday, and will administer primarily nasal vaccine at those clinics, according to a press release.
H1N1 flu vaccines will be provided free of charge and on voluntary first-come first-served basis. Clinics are being especially promoted for underinsured and uninsured Milwaukee individuals and families who would not be able to readily receive vaccination from a medical provider.
Elsewhere around Wisconsin, counties have begun receiving doses of the vaccine to protect against the H1N1 strain. However, Stephanie Marquis with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the supply chain is a little choked up right now, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting production of the vaccine proceeding more slowly than expected. As a result, Marquis says many local flu shot clinics could end up being delayed since they won’t have the vaccine on hand when expected. State residents can learn when and where local flu shot clinics will be held by calling 211 or on the DHS website.