CHAMPAIGN – Planning to come to one of the H1N1 vaccination clinics this weekend? If you're able to spare a nonperishable food item, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is asking that you bring it along.

The vaccinations are free, and a food donation isn't required, public health administrator Julie Pryde said. But, with the number of people expected to turn up at these clinics, her department thought it would be a great opportunity to collect some food for local food pantries.

"We know from our own clients that a lot of people are having trouble this year," Pryde said.

A drive-through clinic is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the public health parking lot, 201 W. Kenyon Road, C, and a walk-in clinic will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday inside Lincoln Square Village, Urbana.

To adhere to government guidelines for the free vaccine, these clinics are being promoted for adults ages 25-64 with chronic health conditions and anyone else in a priority group that hasn't been vaccinated yet. But Pryde said any adult under age 65 – regardless of individual health conditions – coming to one of the clinics will be vaccinated, because the local community has plenty of vaccine available.

The local health district collected unwanted doses of nasal vaccine (which can be given only to healthy people ages 2 to 49) from other health districts around the state, and will be administering it this weekend, along with injectable vaccine, with the help of Carle Clinic nurses.