By JEFF MEYERS

Staff Writer

PLATTSBURGH — Health officials say some local people seem nervous about getting flu vaccine as a nasal mist instead of the shot.

There is no danger from the H1N1 or seasonal flu mists to healthy people, they assure.

CLINIC TODAY

The Clinton County Health Department is holding an H1N1 vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Plattsburgh State Field House. It is open only to pregnant women and adults age 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions. The vaccine will be given for free.

Hundreds of other vaccine doses have been distributed to pediatricians and other health providers in the county, so people who need shots for their children, for example, should call their doctor.

MIST WORKS WELL

Only flu shots will be available for this first public H1N1 clinic, but health officials want to make it clear that vaccines delivered in either mist and shots will protect against seasonal flu and H1N1.

The flu mist contains a live H1N1 virus, which is what might be making some people nervous, but is has been chemically weakened so it cannot cause illness in people that receive it.

A person’s immune system responds to the virus and develops immunity against any full-strength flu virus.

The flu mist vaccine does not pose any kind of threat to healthy people and in many ways provides better protection against H1N1.