Supply of the H1N1 vaccine is now catching up with the demand.
OTTUMWA, IOWA -- In many parts of the country, the vaccine is in full supply and has become available to the general public, and may soon become available to all Iowans.
Lynelle Diers, the Clinical Director of Wapello County Public Health, discusses the supply and demand for the vaccine.
"We have plenty of vaccine here in Wapello County. I have plenty here at Public Health, and I've also been allocating a lot of vaccine to some other providers that had signed contracts to give it also in respect to the high risk groups...As far as the demand, I think the demand has lightened up. Recently we have also been trying to do some non-traditional hour clinics. So the parents of kids and also people that work have other opportunities to get down here and get the vaccine without having to take off work," Diers said.
Currently those eligible for the vaccine in Iowa include health care providers, children ages six months and young adults to age 24 years with no chronic conditions. Children nine and under need two separate doses, 28 days apart.
High-risk adults ages 25 through 64 with chronic medical conditions are also eligible.
"They can continue to call us and we will give them appointments during the daytime if they are still interested in getting it. And I would say [Iowa] is getting very, very close to potentially releasing it to everyone. So in the next few weeks I think we will see where it will be available to whoever would like to receive it," Diers said.