Children who were vaccinated for H1N1 flu any time before Oct. 23 are now eligible for a second dose.  For a lot of parents, that is a reminder that it may be time to head back to the Carew Medical Park clinic.

Children under the age of 10 need two doses of the H1N1 vaccine, four weeks apart, to be fully protected. Only H1N1 injectable vaccine is available at this time. A child can get the H1N1 injectable vaccine as the second dose even if he or she got the nasal spray vaccine the first time.

“What we know is that the first dose only provides partial immunity,” says Dr. Deborah McMahan, Allen County Health Commissioner. “For full effectiveness, a second dose is necessary in children.”

Parents will need to bring a child’s H1N1 vaccination card in order for the child to get the second dose at Carew. If a parent has lost or misplaced the card, the parent will need to request an immunization record by going to the health department’s main office on the 5th floor of the City-County Building during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The H1N1 vaccine is also available at the Carew clinic to pregnant women, caregivers of infants less than six months of age, children and young people between 6 months and 24 years of age, adults 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions, and healthcare workers and emergency medical services personnel.

Seasonal flu vaccine for children 6 months to 18 years of age is being offered while supplies last.

More than 17,300 people have been vaccinated for H1N1 flu since the clinic opened on Oct. 9. The vaccines are free. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (with notarized documentation).