Barstow first-responders to get swine flu vaccine

BARSTOW • Local emergency response workers are finally getting the H1N1 vaccine in Barstow.

The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health is now offering the H1N1 shot and FluMist vaccine to health care workers, emergency medical personnel and other high-risk groups at it’s Barstow Public Health Clinic, at 303 East Mountain View Street, on Thursdays by appointment. Barstow Community Hospital, at 555 South Seventh Avenue, will also be offering the vaccine to emergency medical technicians, firefighters and law enforcement from Barstow and the surrounding areas during two clinics for first responders next week.

BCH spokesman John Rader said the hospital received 500 doses of the vaccine from the department of public health. The hospital has immunized 227 physicians, volunteers and hospital staff members since Saturday and expects that number to grow to around 300 by Monday. Rader said the hospital scheduled the hospital staff for immunization first, but hopes to immunize as many people in high-risk groups as possible.

Rader said immunizing health care and other emergency response worker is important because if they get infected they could be a large source of infection for vulnerable patients and sick workers could reduce the health care system’s capacity to respond.

Barstow Fire Department Chief Jauss said although opportunities to get immunized have been rare, six of the 18 full time firefighters have done so. The firefighters attended the health department’s clinic in Hesperia earlier in the month, according to Jauss.

Jauss said he hopes the rest of the full-time firefighters and the paid-call firefighters will get immunizations soon.

“It does help comfort me knowing that the staff is getting the protection they need,” Jauss said. “It’s important that we’re ready if a pandemic does happen.”

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(760) 256-4126 or dheldreth@desertdispatch.com

Who the H1N1 vaccine is currently available to:
• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
• Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system
• Health care and emergency medical personnel
People that fall into the high-risk groups can contact the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health at (800) 722-4777 to make an appointment at the Barstow Public Health Clinic at 303 East Mountain View Street.

Source: San Bernardino County Department of Public Health website