Illinois is continuing to experience an increase in influenza-like illness and laboratory confirmed influenza. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, there have been approximately 448 hospitalizations and 19 deaths in Illinois attributable to H1N1 (swine) flu this year. In Lake County, there have been 26 hospitalizations and one death. The Lake County Health Department is encouraging residents to protect themselves from the H1N1 virus by getting vaccinated this fall.
  
H1N1 Vaccine Update
 
The Health Department is preparing to open H1N1 flu vaccination clinics at five sites. These walk-in clinics are initially for people in specific high priority target groups. Once the high priority populations have received the vaccine, the Health Department will provide the vaccine to the general public. There is no charge for the vaccine.
Gurnee
Advocate Condell Medical Building
1425 Hunt Club Road, Suite 103
 
Thursday, Oct. 29 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
 
Waukegan
Waukegan Park District
Field House at Hinkston Park
800 N. Baldwin Avenue
 
Thursday, Oct. 29 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1 - 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
 
North Chicago
The Lake County Health Department's
North Chicago Community Health Center
2215 14th Street
 
Thursday, Oct. 29 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1 - Closed
 
These clinics are walk-in only. Please note that only the H1N1 flu vaccine, and not the seasonal flu vaccine, is available at these clinics.
 
The high priority target population groups for the H1N1 vaccine include:

• Individuals 6 months to 24 years of age
• Caretakers and household contacts of children under 6 months of age
• All pregnant women
• Healthcare and emergency medical services employees
• People 25 to 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, which put them at high risk for flu-related complications.

 
H1N1 vaccinations have been produced in several forms such as nasal spray and shots. Health Department vaccination clinic staff will work with residents to determine the best form of vaccine for each individual, based on health needs and vaccine availability. It is also very important that anyone who received a seasonal flu shot this year to bring a record of that vaccination to the H1N1 clinic so staff can determine the best form of vaccine to provide.
 
What You Can Do
 
Practice Healthy Habits
In addition to getting your seasonal flu shot, help prevent the spread of flu in the workplace, schools and throughout the community by:

• Washing your hands frequently
• Staying home if you are sick
• Covering your cough and sneeze

 
Additional important items to remember about flu include:
 

• Overall, people are most contagious during the first three days of illness, so staying home during this time is especially important to not spread the flu to coworkers, friends or fellow students.
• People with flu-like symptoms should stay home from school, work and social gatherings until 24 hours after resolution of their fever (less than 100 F) without fever reducing medications.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children 9 and younger receive two doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine, which should be separated by one month. One dose is recommended for everyone else.

 
Volunteer
The Health Department is also recruiting volunteers for its Lake County Medical Reserve Corps to help with H1N1 flu prevention. For more information, call: (847) 377-8358.
 
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