[Press Release] : Health Department Expands H1N1 Availability to Broad Priority Groups

[Press Releases]

For Immediate Release
November 16, 2009
 
Contact: Geni Alexander, Public Information Officer
573.268.6265 or gaalexan at GoColumbiaMo.com
 
Health Department Continues to Expand H1N1 Vaccinations

The Columbia/Boone County Dept of Public Health and Human Services
announces the following updates: 
BEGINNING TODAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH 
The health department is offering free H1N1 vaccine on a walk-in basis,
Monday-Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm, at the health department clinic for
Boone County residents in the following narrow priority groups: 
·         pregnant women
·         children 6 months through 4 years of age
·         children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical
conditions
·         people who live with or care for infants less than 6 months
old (NEW)
·         healthcare workers with direct patient contact (NEW)
No appointment is necessary. Because of limited supplies of the nasal
spray vaccine, there will be NO mist available for these groups, only
injectable vaccine. We will offer preservative-free vaccine to pregnant
women and children 6 months through 35 months while supplies last. 
PUBLIC CLINIC - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH 
We will offer free H1N1 vaccinations for Boone County residents in the
CDC’s broad priority groups at a public clinic from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm on
Wednesday, November 18th at the health department, 1005 West Worley in
Columbia. In addition to pregnant women and people who live with or care
for infants less than 6 months old, the vaccine will be available to:
·         all children and young adults 6 months through 24 years old 
·         anyone age 25-64 with a chronic medical condition
·         all healthcare and EMS workers
Because of limited supplies of the nasal spray vaccine, there will be
NO mist available at the clinic, only injectable vaccine. We are
continuing our school-based vaccination clinics, so parents also have
the option of having their child vaccinated by health department nurses
at the child’s school. Anyone who attends college should check with
their Student Health Center for vaccine availability. Consent forms can
be completed by visiting www.GoColumbiaMO.com (
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ )and following links to the health
department’s flu page. For more information about the flu, please visit
www.FightTheFluMO.com ( http://www.fighttheflumo.com/ ). 
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