Harford Health Department Schedules Appointment-Only H1N1 Vaccination Clinic For General Population

From the Harford Count Health Department:

The Harford County Health Department will be conducting an H1N1 influenza vaccination clinic for the general population on Friday, December18, 2009 at their Woodbridge Station operations center located at 1321 Woodbridge Station Way in Edgewood, Maryland.

The vaccination clinic will be available at no cost by appointment only, between the hours of 8:30am through 4:30pm. Members of the public wishing to obtain appointments to receive the H1N1 injectable vaccine clinic can do so by calling 410-877-1050 beginning Wednesday, December 16th at 8:00am. Persons with appointments are instructed not to arrive more than ten minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time.
The decision follows Governor Martin O’Malley’s announcement last week that Maryland will expand the distribution of H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine to the general population, adding healthy adults and seniors to the five target groups for whom the vaccine is currently recommended. Those target groups will remain a statewide priority as the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) reports a decline in flu activity following a late October second wave peak in H1N1 (Swine) flu.
“Getting more vaccine into the general population may help Maryland avoid a third wave of H1N1 (Swine) flu activity, protecting our most vulnerable neighbors from serious health problems, hospitalization and death,” said Governor Martin O’Malley in his news release of December 8th.
Vaccine remains the best protection against flu. Although H1N1 (Swine) flu has been generally characterized as a mild to moderate illness, some Marylanders continue to experience serious symptoms, have required hospitalization or have died from complications. Emphasis still is being placed on vaccinating the five target populations who are identified by the National Centers for Disease Control as being at higher risk of complications, including:
• Pregnant Woman
• Parents, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
Harford County Health Officer Susan Kelly states, “If vaccine distribution in Maryland and to Harford County continues in sufficient amounts, opportunities for the general public to become vaccinated against the H1N1 flu are expected to increase significantly. As physicians’ offices and retail pharmacies also begin receiving vaccine, we anticipate there will be a greater number of venues where anyone who wishes to get vaccinated may conveniently do so.”

For additional information, including the opportunity to view the Governor’s December 8, 2009 press release in its entirety, visit the Harford County Health Department website at www.harfordcountyhealth.com or call 410-612-1781.