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PLATTSBURGH — The Clinton County Health Department will hold its first public H1N1 clinic, but it's only for certain high-risk residents of Clinton County.

The clinic, which is open only to adults with certain medical conditions and pregnant women, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Plattsburgh State Field House on Rugar Street.

The clinic is not open to children, but the Health Department said that a new round of H1N1 vaccines has been distributed this week to local pediatrician offices.

WHO CAN GET IT
Due to a limited supply of vaccine, the people eligible to receive the vaccine at the public clinic are:

  Adults between the ages of 25 and 64 years with chronic medical illness, such as chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); immune-system suppression; spinal-cord injury; seizure disorders; or other neuromuscular disorders that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk of aspiration.

  Pregnant women.

All vaccinations will be free of charge. Participants should dress for easy access to the upper arm.

SHOTS FOR CHILDREN
Additional supplies of H1N1 received this week by the Clinton County Health Department have been redistributed to local pediatricians.

Health officials are advising parents to contact their pediatric health-care providers about vaccinations for their children.

About 6,600 Clinton County residents who meet the Centers for Disease Control target groups have been vaccinated so far against H1N1 influenza.

The Health Department said that a "small, limited supply of H1N1 vaccine continues to arrive weekly. When enough H1N1 vaccine is available again, additional public clinics will be held."

People can check the Web site www.clintonhealth.org or call 565-4490.

Absentee rates in Clinton County schools continue to decline, according to the latest Health Department report. The numbers reported at this time are in line with levels of absenteeism in past years.

The Clinton County Health Department and the Foundation of CVPH Medical Center recently collaborated on the purchase of 1,000 thermometers for the community. The thermometers will be given to local school districts for distribution to families through the school health office.

PLATTSBURGH STATE
Plattsburgh State's Center for Student Health and Psychological Services has received another 300 doses of the H1N1 vaccine.

Students may receive the vaccine by going to the center on a walk-in basis during normal business hours.

To date, 1,240 students have received the vaccine.

Over the past week, the staff at the center has seen a decrease in the number of students with influenza-like illness. Last week, they had 25 cases, bringing the total for the semester to 318.