October 19, 2009

H1N1 Flu Update: City of Alexandria to Hold H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinics
Clinic Dates Contingent on Vaccine Availability

News Highlights

• Vaccine shipments have been delayed nationwide; in Alexandria, H1N1 flu vaccine will be offered as adequate doses become available
• Vaccinations will be offered first to persons at highest risk of complications and death from H1N1 flu
• Vaccine will be offered to school-age children in the Alexandria City Public Schools and some private schools starting the week of October 19, contingent on vaccine availability
• A public vaccination clinic will begin on October 31, contingent on vaccine availability

For More Information

• City of Alexandria H1N1 Flu Information 
• Alexandria Health Department H1N1 Information: 703.838.4400, ext. 352
• Virginia Department of Health Information Hotline:1.877.ASK.VDH3

The City of Alexandria and Alexandria Health Department (AHD) will be offering H1N1 flu vaccinations through a variety of locations, including schools, the health department, and eventually, mass clinics that will be open to the public. Vaccine will be offered as adequate doses become available through the AHD. Across the country, vaccine is just now being shipped to health departments and other providers in limited quantities, with further shipments arriving weekly. Within the next several weeks, adequate supplies will be available for everyone who wants to receive this vaccine.

Contingent on vaccine availability, the first public vaccination clinic will be held October 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the George Washington Middle School Cafeteria, 1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.

The vaccinations, which are free of charge, will be offered first to persons at highest risk of complications and death from H1N1 influenza, including:

• pregnant women
• caregivers of young children
• children ages 6 months to 24 years old
• health care workers
• adults 24 to 65 years old with chronic health conditions

Vaccine will also be offered to school-age children in the Alexandria City Public Schools and some private schools starting the week of October 19, contingent on vaccine availability. Only the injectable form of the vaccine will be offered in schools. If parents wish for their children to receive the nasal spray form of the vaccine, they can contact their healthcare provider or bring their child to AHD for the vaccine.

The AHD also encourages people to check first with their healthcare providers for availability of H1N1 vaccine, as many providers have signed up to receive vaccine to give to their patients. For a listing of providers, visit the Virginia Department of Health and click “Vaccination Locations.”

The Alexandria Health Department will be offering the H1N1 vaccine to its clients and to others who wish to come to the Health Department during business hours. Specific hours and locations will be announced once an adequate number of doses of vaccine is received by the health department.

The Health Department, in collaboration with City partners, will also be offering vaccine to the public through mass vaccination clinics on Friday evenings and daytime Saturdays starting in November. Specific dates, times and locations will be announced as soon as adequate supplies of vaccine are available.