By ELIZABETH MATTHEWS
Health officals and residents divvy up limited supplies of the H1N1 vaccine.
As the H1N1 flu virus becomes widespread across the nation Four Staters are preparing by seeking vaccinations.
But Missouri and Kansas are receiving the vaccine at different times and in different amounts.
The Crawford County Health Department vaccinated hundreds of citizens during an H1N1 flu virus vaccine clinic on Friday.
The department prepared for a packed house but instead had a steady stream of anxious residents.
Crawford County is currently focusing on parents of children younger than six months, licensed child care providers, and anyone between the ages of six months and 49 years.
"There still a lot of people still calling requesting the vaccine and we still have our limitations on it," says Janis Goedeke of the Crawford County Health Department.
Goedeke says the priority list of who to vaccinate first is continuing to change due to governmental standards and in return confusing the public.
"The guidelines change periodically," explains Goedeke. "We kind of get instructions to concentrate on this population, and then statistics will show that we need to change and concentrate on another population."
Across the state line in Carthage, Missouri, McCune Brooks Hospital also held an H1N1 flu clinic on Friday. They vaccinated over 150 people and their limitations are different.
"Our focus is pregnant women, young children, healthcare workers, and caregivers of young children," says Terri Koch of McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital.
Next on their H1N1 limitations includes healthy people between the ages of six months and 49 years old.
Koch says Crawford County is ahead of them with vaccinations.
And while Crawford County Health Deparment vaccine is free, if you go to McCune Brooks you will have to pay an administration fee of $10.
"They pay for the time and the skills of the personnel that give them the vaccine," says Koch.
Koch says the administration fee also pays for the numerous hours spent on paperwork.
The Crawford County Health Department is expecting another small shipment of H1N1 flu vaccines next week, when they will hopefully continue with clinics focusing on children with chronic conditions.
