Pharmacies in the area poised to get H1N1 shot

Doses of the H1N1 vaccine should be available at pharmacies around the state for use by the general public this week ' several days earlier than previously expected.

The Indiana Department of Health announced Monday that it ordered 60,000 doses of the vaccine for pharmacies last week. Some pharmacies could make those doses available this week.

State officials previously planned to provide the vaccine to the general public the week of Dec. 20.

The state intended to send doses directly to retail pharmacies to give Hoosiers easier access to the vaccine, which protects against the H1N1 strain of the flu virus.

A department spokeswoman said details about which pharmacies will be offering the vaccine will be released Thursday.

State health commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe previously said that large chains like Walgreens, CVS and Kroger are registered with the state to provide the vaccinations.




Unlike free public clinics held by county health departments, anyone receiving the doses from a retail pharmacy will likely have to pay an administration fee. The fee covers the pharmacist injecting the vaccine into the arm or spraying the vaccine into the nose.

By law, pharmacies cannot charge more than the Medicare reimbursement rate of $19.59. Some pharmacies plan to charge a flat $10 administration fee, Monroe said, and private insurance may also cover the cost of the vaccine.

Until now, the state has urged county health departments to focus on vaccinating Hoosiers considered at high risk of developing the H1N1 flu. Those groups include people younger than 24 ; pregnant women; adults with chronic health conditions, plus health care and emergency medical workers.

Some smaller counties across the state, such as Noble and Steuben, have begun to offer the vaccine to the general public, Monroe said last week.

Allen County expanded its eligibility to include adults younger than 64 with or without chronic health conditions for its clinics scheduled through Friday.

As schools and colleges wrap up for the holidays, the state has focused its vaccination efforts on college students and sent thousands of doses to campuses to vaccinate students.

In recent weeks, the majority of people complaining of flu symptoms to doctors' offices around the state were children and young adults.