By KELLY WILSON
Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The Adams County Health Department has received 3,700 doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccine and will hold a public vaccination clinic on Thursday.

Both injectable and inhalable vaccine will be available from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Oakley-Lindsay Center, 300 Civic Center Plaza. Participants should enter the main lobby and will be directed to McClain Hall.

There is no charge for the vaccine.

"This is a pretty good supply," said Julie Shepard, director of health protection at the Health Department. "We're receiving a lot of calls, so we know people are still interested and have been waiting for us to get the supply in."

The department can only give the vaccine to individuals who meet the following criteria:

* A person between 6 months and 24 years old;

* A person between 25 and 64 who is a health-care worker with direct patient contact;

* A person between 25 and 64 who is a direct caregiver of a child that is less than 6 months of age;

* A person between 25 and 64 who suffers from a chronic medical condition;

* Pregnant women.

Those do not meet the eligibility requirements can't receive an immunization at the clinic. Additional opportunities for those who are not eligible for this H1N1 vaccination clinic may be announced in the future.

No seasonal flu shots or other immunizations will be available at the clinic.

This is the third shipment of H1N1 vaccine the department has received.

The first shipment, 500 doses of the flu mist form, was distributed during a public clinic Oct. 10. During a second public clinic Oct. 20, the department distributed between 1,500 and 1,600 doses of injectable vaccine.

The line during the second clinic snaked from the Health Department's Broadway entrance south to Sixth Street and around the corner and across the entire block of Vermont. Close to 300 vaccines an hour were given.

By providing the vaccine at the Oakley-Lindsay Center, "we can have more staff, the waiting will be inside and there will be better parking," Shepard said.

For updates, call the Adams County flu hotline at (217) 277-5900.

The hotline is manned by registered nurses 24 hours a day. In addition to providing information about H1N1 vaccination clinics, the hotline serves as a place for people to seek advice about when it's necessary to seek medical treatment if showing signs of flu.

"The hotline has received an average of 90 calls per day and continues to be an excellent way to educate the community about the flu," said

-- kwilson@whig.com/221-3391