City Room™ - Science - First Swine Flu Shots Arriving in Chicago

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First Swine Flu Shots Arriving in Chicago
Produced by Gabriel Spitzer on Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Chicago Health Commissioner Terry Mason (right) talks with Alderman Ed Smith, chair of the city council's Health Committee. (WBEZ/Gabriel Spitzer)

Chicago’s first batch of injectable vaccine for H1N1 swine flu began arriving today.

The city expects about 55,000 doses this week. That includes almost 40,000 shots, the variety approved for babies and pregnant women. Health Commissioner Terry Mason says more vaccine will come in each week.

He says the city doesn’t plan to vaccinate in the public schools. Instead officials will set up clinics for school kids at community colleges, open 3 days a week.

MASON: We felt that it’d be a far more efficient use of time to have the parents bring the children. We don’t have to worry about a consent, because a parent is there, they’ll give consent, and we can immunize the parent, too.

Mason said the last vaccination campaign in the schools was cumbersome, and got low participation.