WTHR |Brownsburg cancels H1N1 vaccine clinic

Brownsburg cancels H1N1 vaccine clinic

Rich Van Wyk/Eyewitness News

Hamilton and Hendricks Counties - The H1N1 flu pandemic has claimed another Indiana life. The Hamilton County Health Department confirmed late Friday afternoon that a woman in her twenties has died from the virus. At this time, the health department is not releasing any other information on the victim.

The Centers for Disease Control just announced the virus killed 19 children last week. That is higher than any other week since the pandemic began in April. Meantime, the lack of vaccine is forcing local school districts to cancel, or at the very least postpone, vaccination plans.

500 doses of vaccine just arrived, but it is nowhere close to the amount needed to hold the promised mass inoculations of Hendricks County school children.

"In order to get into the schools like we planned, the plan was to do all schools in a week, we would need 15,000 doses at one time," said Monica Smith, Hendricks County Health Department.

Schools that planned to start immunizing children as early as next week are being told to tell parents that plans are changing.

"We are not sure when we can get in there so they may want to take children elsewhere for vaccinations," said Smith.

Danville still plans to provide vaccinations during schools hours. Brownsburg canceled all its clinics. Keeping up with the changing plans was too difficult.

"We were spending so many hours trying to keep the plan current, keep parents connected on what was going on and dealing with questions," said Donna Petraits, Brownsburg Schools.

Instead, Brownsburg will host clinics after school or weekends - whenever there is enough vaccine.

Parents filled out consent forms and sent them to schools weeks ago. A lot can change in that time. Parents may have already had their children vaccinated or decided against the inoculations.

Tracie Sullivan's son became sick with H1N1 waiting for vaccine to arrive.

"You kind of had hope that okay, we're going to receive the shots, but now it don't look like it's going to happen," she said.

Parents and public health officials are learning that any plan to slow the spread of the H1N1 virus is a plan that changes with each arriving shipment of vaccine.

Hamilton Southeastern schools planned to begin mass inoculations next week. More than half of parents said yes to the vaccinations. But without enough vaccine, school officials say they are now reconsidering those plans and may have an alternative early next week.

Marion County is offering H1N1 vaccinations November 4th and 5th at the Lafayette Square Mall. Hours are 3:00 to 7:00 pm Wednesday and 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Thursday. The health department says they will offer 3,000 total doses per day.

Flu info