Nearly 600 people have taken advantage of the after hours H1N1 flu shot clinics held Thursday evening and Saturday at the Monroe County Health Department on New Highway 68.
Health Department Director Teresa Harrill said about 300 people received shots or nasal mists on Thursday and nearly 270 people received the H1N1 vaccine on Saturday.

"The busy time was in the morning, then it was steady most of the day," Harrill said.
As of Monday morning, the Health Department had only about 50 doses left of the shot but plenty of the mist.
More vaccine is supposed to come in this week, she said.
There is no charge for the vaccine and there is just one sheet of paper the patient has to fill out with name address and any health problems they might have.

People can come by during the day to get the vaccine, however Harrill said it is best to call the Health Department first at 442-3993.
The Monroe County Health Department issued a press release with information about the flu vaccine and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

The CDC recommends the following groups as priority to receive the H1N1 vaccine:
• Pregnant women, because they are at high risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated.
• People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months because younger infants are at higher risk of flu-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants younger than 6 months old might help protect infants by "cocooning" them from the virus.
• Health care and emergency medical personnel: because infections among health care workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce health care system capacity.
• Anyone 6 months through 24 years of age
• Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

There are two types of influenza vaccines that protect against H1N1 flu.  flue mist is a live vaccine containing a significantly weakened version of the virus that is administered in the nose and can be provided to a healthy, non-pregnant person age 2-49 years.

The flu shot is an inactivate vaccine containing killed virus that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use among people 6 months of age or older, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions.