Moving to strengthen its nursing staff to help handle the immunization program of the Mingo County Health Department when swine flu vaccine becomes available, the health board hired a recently retired nurse practitioner part-time.

The board met Thursday in executive session to discuss the nursing situation and then returned to its regular meeting in which Mingo Health Board Chairman Greg K. Smith recommended hiring Nancy Johnson to work one day a week, eight hours a day at $30 pay per day.

Another nurse practitioner, Trina Casey, will be working as backup to Johnson.

Health Department Administrator Cathy Headen confirmed that the department presently has no flu vaccine and awaits the county’s allocation. Instead of going into Mingo County’s schools to administer the vaccine when it becomes available, nurses will be stationed at a specified location and students will be go to the designated location for the shots when vaccine is received and announcements are made.

Headen reported that the Health Department is working closely with officials of the school system to have plans ready when vaccine is available.

Board members present tat the meeting in addition to Smith and Headen were Vice Chair Dr. Diane Shafer, Franklin Cisco, Albert Totten and Ray Curry. Dr. Manolo D. Tampoya, M.D., county health officer, also was present along with Bernice Johnson, RNC.

Minutes of the board’s regular meeting on Sept. 17 and special meeting on Sept. 28 were approved by the board, along with a financial update. Headen reported the department’s bank balance as $71,383.18. She also reported the Family Planning program has a balance of $698, and the Breast Cancer and Cervical Screening Program has a balance of $1,172.71.

In other actions, the board approved reports on the Threat Preparedness program, the Safety Committee’s meeting,. and moved to pay accounts payable.

The Safety Committee is still trying to get the problem of sidewalk parking next to Memorial Building corrected, and the County Commission is seeking grants with which to upgrade the elevator in the Memorial Building, and to provide an additional elevator to transport visitors to the first floor of the building.