Pennsylvania Department of Health to Offer H1N1 Vaccine to Priority Populations on Nov. 20, 21 and 22

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Health today announced it will conduct statewide clinics from Nov. 20-22 to administer free H1N1 vaccine to individuals in the recommended target groups that have not had previous access to the vaccine.

Individuals in the recommended target groups must schedule an appointment time, day and location prior to the clinic in order to receive the H1N1 vaccine. This will help ensure that the correct type and amount of vaccine is available at each location.

"Our goal is to get the H1N1 vaccine to as many people as possible who are at risk of suffering serious complications from the virus," said Deputy Secretary Michael Huff. "These public health clinics will help us do just that with the amount of vaccine that is currently available to us."

The department asks that only individuals in the following groups attend the clinics:

    --  Individuals between the ages of six months and 24 years;
    --  Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six months;
    --  Pregnant women;
    --  Healthcare providers and emergency medical services personnel; and

    --  Individuals under 65 years of age with underlying health conditions,
        including asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease,
        kidney disease, and neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders.

A total of 18 health clinics, three in each of the department's six districts, will be held on Nov. 20, 21 and 22. Clinic hours on Friday, Nov. 20 and Sunday, Nov. 22 will be 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hours on Saturday, Nov. 21, will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Appointments can be made at www.H1N1inPA.com under "What's Hot," 24 hours a day. Individuals without internet access can call 1-877-PA HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Lines are limited.

Anyone seeking vaccination should download an H1N1 vaccine consent form from www.h1n1inPA.com. Consent forms must be completed for each individual that has scheduled to be vaccinated. Preparing this form in advance will help the clinics more quickly register and vaccinate people.

As more vaccine becomes available, the department will schedule additional clinics throughout the state.

Visit www.H1N1inPA.com to learn more about priority groups, potential vaccine side effects and other important information.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants to receive it, but that may be several months away.

Media contact: Stacy Kriedeman, 717-787-1783

Editor's Note: Below is a list of the locations in each of the six community health districts where the H1N1 immunization health clinics will be held on Nov. 20-22.

Northwest Community Health District

    --  Clinic #1 (covering Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford and Venango Counties)
        Mercer County State Health Center, 25 McQuiston Dr., Jackson Center
        16133
    --  Clinic #2 (covering Forest, Clarion, Jefferson and Clearfield Counties)
        Intermediate Unit #6, 270 Mayfield Rd., Clarion 16214

    --  Clinic #3 (covering Warren, McKean, Elk and Cameron Counties) Fox Twp.
        Ambulance Garage, State Route 984, Sheeley Rd. and Main St., Kersey
        15846

Northcentral Community Health District

    --  Clinic #1 (covering Potter, Tioga, Bradford and Sullivan Counties) Tioga
        County State Health Center, 44 Plaza Lane, Wellsboro 16901
    --  Clinic #2 (covering Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland and Columbia
        Counties) Northcentral District Office, 1000 Commerce Park Dr., Water
        Tower Square, Suite 109, Williamsport 17701

    --  Clinic #3 (covering Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder Counties) Centre
        County State Health Center, 280 W. Hamilton Ave., State College 16801

Northeast Community Health District

    --  Clinic #1 (covering Wyoming, Susquehanna, Wayne, Lackawanna and Pike
        Counties) Wyoming County EMA Building, 455 SR 6 East, Tunkhannock 18657
    --  Clinic #2 (covering Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe Counties) PA Expo,
        501 Cetronia Rd., Allentown 18104

    --  Clinic #3 (covering Luzerne and Carbon Counties) Kingston Armory, 280
        Market St., Kingston 18704

Southwest Community Health District

    --  Clinic #1 (covering Cambria, Somerset and Indiana Counties) Richland
        Twp. Fire Department, 1321 Scalp Ave., Johnstown 15904
    --  Clinic #2 (covering Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland
        Counties) Mon Valley State Health Center, Eastgate 8, Room 140, Monessen
        15062

    --  Clinic #3 (covering Butler, Armstrong and Beaver Counties) Butler County
        State Health Center, 100 Brugh Ave., Monarch Bldg., Suite 201, Butler
        16001

Southcentral Community Health District

    --  Clinic #1 (covering Dauphin, Lebanon, York, Juniata and Perry Counties)
        Dauphin County State Health Center, 30 Kline Plaza, Harrisburg 17104
    --  Clinic #2 (covering Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon and Mifflin Counties)
        Blair County State Health Center, Cricket Field Plaza, 615 Howard Ave.,
        Altoona 16601

    --  Clinic #3 (covering Fulton, Franklin, Adams and Cumberland Counties)
        Franklin County State Health Center, 518 Cleveland Ave., Chambersburg
        17201

Southeast Community Health District

    --  Clinic #1 (covering Berks and Schuylkill Counties) Reading State Office
        Building, 625 Cherry St., Room 401, Reading 19602
    --  Clinic #2 (covering Lancaster County) Lancaster Public Safety Center,
        101 Champ Blvd., Manheim 17545

    --  Clinic #3 (covering Delaware County) Chichester Middle School, 925
        Meetinghouse Rd., Boothwyn 19061

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health