COLLIER COUNTY — The Collier County Health Department announced that a third, high-risk community vaccination clinic is set to open closest to Marco Island to protect against the swine flu.

“Because there has been a delay in vaccine shipments, vaccine supply is currently limited and health officials are asking individuals in the highest risk groups attend these first clinics,” wrote Collier County Health Department Spokeswoman Deb Millsap in a prepared release issued on Friday.

The Collier County Health Department will offer H1N1 swine flu vaccines, at no cost, at the following community vaccination clinics:

-North Collier Regional Park Exhibit Hall, 15000 Livingston Rd., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday.

-Former K-Mart location at the corner of Tamiami Trail East and Collier Boulevard. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday.

-Immokalee Sports Complex, 505 Escambia St., from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday.

High risk individuals include:

-Pregnant women.

-People who provide care for infants six months old or younger.

-Youth between the age of six months to 24 years old.

-People aged 25 to 64 years old who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu-related complications These higher risk conditions include asthma and chronic lung disease; heart disease, except high blood pressure; kidney disease; liver disease; cognitive disease; neurologic or neuromuscular disorders, such as seizures or cerebral palsy; blood disorders, such as anemia; metabolic disease, including diabetes; immunosuppression, which may be caused either by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

-Health care and emergency medical services personnel, who, by nature of their job, are at higher risk of exposure to the flu.

Additional vaccination clinics will be scheduled as vaccine shipments continue to be delivered locally.

“People who are not in one of these high risk categories will have ample opportunity to be vaccinated as the clinics are opened to all residents and visitors later in November and early December,” Millsap reported.

In the meantime to prevent the spread of H1N1 Swine flu:

-Wash hands frequently

-Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or the upper sleeve of your arm

-Stay home when ill and do not send ill children to school or day care

More information is also available on the Web site myflusafety.com or by calling 252-8200 and choosing option 2 on the message line.

If planning to go to one of these clinics, consent forms may be printed from the Web site, CollierPrepares.org, in advance to save time during the clinic.

The Florida Department of Health offers a 24 hour flu information line for questions in English, Spanish or Creole, at 1-877-352-3581.

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