San Juan Basin Health Department is offering several H1N1 vaccination clinics this week in Bayfield, Durango and Ignacio.

The Durango clinics will take place 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, and 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 7. Both clinics will be held at San Juan Basin Health Department in Bodo Park.

The Bayfield clinic will take place 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Upper Pine Fire Protection Administration Building located at 515 Sower Dr.

On Friday, Nov. 6, San Juan Basin Health will be providing H1N1 vaccines 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. the health fair inside the Sky Ute Casino.

These clinics are ONLY for: individuals up to age 64 with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, children 6 months to 4 years old, and for parents, siblings or daycare providers of babies under six months old. Both FluMist and shots will be available.

Vaccinations are free; however, people may make a voluntary donation.

San Juan Basin Health will be adding clinics weekly. Visit their website, www.sjbhd.org, or call FluLine 247-5702, ext. 1520 for more information. You can also the La Plata County Infoline at 385-INFO (4636), ext. 2270 or the Colorado Helpline at (877) 462-2911.

FLU ACTIVITY: The number of cases fluctuated this week. There was an increase in reported flu-like illness absences in Durango 9-R schools and a decrease in Bayfield schools.

The San Juan Basin Health Department held a clinic Saturday to vaccinate selected kids and caregivers against the H1N1 virus. (Below are a video and poll.) I admit, I’ve been a flip-flopper on the shot (or nasal mist, the other option for administering the vaccine). Friday night, my husband and I decided to go ahead with it, but Saturday I forgot all about it until a half hour before it was ending. (Guess that was my ambivalence speaking. Or perhaps the idea of waiting in line for an undefined amount of time while my toddler nurtured a sense of unmitigated dread about the unpleasantness about to be inflicted on him made me unconsciously suppress the recollection.) I’d be interested to hear the experiences of those who went to the clinic. Also, to stay updated on the last H1N1 information, check here Tuesday or page 3A of the Durango Herald print edition for information on the number of cases diagnosed the previous week, where and when vaccination clinics will be held that week, the populations eligible for vaccination, and phone numbers and online resources to obtain information. 

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Video by ERIC DRUMMOND/Herald

The health department is providing H1N1 vaccinations on Halloween. More information from the agency follows …

San Juan Basin Health Department is inviting people to say BOO to the FLU at its Halloween H1N1 Clinics in both Bayfield and Durango. These clinics are ONLY for: pregnant women, children from 6 months through 4 years of age, individuals ages 5 through 18 who have chronic health conditions, and for parents, siblings or daycare providers of babies under six months old. Both FluMist and shots will be available. This new vaccine availability allows the Health Department to provide flu protection to individuals who cannot receive the FluMist nasal vaccine.

The Durango H1N1 Flu Vaccine clinic will take place on Saturday, October 31st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. The Bayfield clinic will also be on October 31. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Upper Pine Fire Protection Administration Building located at 515 Sower Drive. The vaccine is free; however, people may make a donation if they wish to cover administering the vaccine.

While there are still only small amounts of vaccine being received each week, the Health Department is ensuring that those community members most at risk of developing complications from this flu receive the vaccine first. San Juan Basin Health anticipates adding clinics weekly. Please check our website and FluLine 247-5702, ext. 1520 for additional H1N1 clinics as vaccine availability is confirmed.

For more information about H1N1, visit www.sjbhd.org , flu.gov, or call the La Plata County Infoline at 385-INFO (4636), ext. 2270 or the Colorado Helpline at 877-462-2911.

I’ve never been a big fan of hand sanitizers. The dirt just gets rubbed around, and the germs get zapped with a bunch of chemicals. I’ll just use soap, thank you very much. But with the swine flu, or H1N1 virus, hovering around, I admit I’ve resorted to slathering some of the stuff on when water wasn’t handy, even though it did leave me smelling like I’d had a three martini lunch. But when it comes to my kids, I really hate the idea of smearing them with rubbing alcohol and chemicals, so I’ve been exploring some natural alternatives.

Dancing Willow Herbs carries an antiseptic spray that contains lavender, peppermint, rosemary and tea. It does contain alcohol but you’d never guess it from the smell. It goes for about $10 a bottle.

Nature’s Oasis said they carry several different natural hand sanitizers. Durango Natural Foods doesn’t presently carry any but were inclined to consider it. I’m not sure about Natural Grocers but plan to swing by there later to check it out.

There’s also many options that can be ordered online. The one I found most frequently cited is CleanWell, which claims to kill 99.99 percent of harmful germs on contact with no toxic chemicals. Another, Clean George, touts all organic or natural ingredients and no alcohol. Instead it relies on the germ-fighting properties of peppermint, tea tree and manuka oils.

Or you can make your own. According to this New York Times article, cinnamon oil has been proven effective against fighting germs. A pediatrician quoted in the article extols the effectiveness of “thieves oil,” a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary. The combination is so-named because it was said to have been discovered in the Middle Ages by graverobbers who used it to ward off the bubonic plague while completing their dasterdly deeds.

In the end, soap and water is still the most non-toxic, effective method out there for fighting germs, but it’s nice to have some natural alternatives in a pinch. (A detailed Q&A on this topic can be found on this “Green Living” blog).