NOTICE - Chester County Health Department announces dates for H1N1 vaccination clinics

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Chester County Health Department announces dates for H1N1 vaccination clinics

Appointment-only vaccinations to be allocated to Tier One (most vulnerable) residents on November 23-25, 2009

WEST CHESTER The Chester County Health Department has been notified that approximately 5,300 doses of H1N1 vaccine will be sent from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADoH) to begin the inoculation of Chester County’s most vulnerable “Tier 1” residents.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classifies Tier 1 as pregnant women, caregivers of children younger than six months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, persons six months through 24 years of age, and persons aged 25 to 64 who have underlying health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza, such as weakened immune systems and cancer.

The Chester County Health Department will administer this free vaccine to Tier 1 persons through its normal clinic appointment program at the Health Department's 601 Westtown Road location in West Chester.

Appointments will be available on a “first requested, first served” basis from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on November 23 and 24, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on November 25, 2009.

As the vaccine supply is limited at this time, only people with appointments will be served during these dates.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling 610-344-5353, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To allow efficient distribution of the limited vaccine allocation, the Chester County Health Department is asking only Tier 1 citizens, or family members of Tier 1 citizens, to call for an appointment. Individuals in the healthcare and emergency medical services category must bring organizational identification as proof that they are eligible. Individuals with underlying health conditions must have a doctor’s note verifying that their condition makes them eligible as a Tier 1 citizen.

To enable an efficient vaccination service, all individuals with appointments are asked to wear short-sleeved shirts. Individuals with appointments are also encouraged to go to the health department website and download the required consent form and bring the completed form to the Health Department at their appointment time.

Due to the full day of H1N1 vaccination clinics on November 23, 24 and 25, 2009 all regularly scheduled clinics, apart from the WIC clinic, are cancelled on those dates. The WIC clinic will be held at the Government Services Center as scheduled.

The Chester County Health Department reminds residents to continue to take preventative actions to minimize the spread of the H1N1 virus, including:

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it;

· If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow;

· Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel;

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way;

· Try to avoid close contact with sick people;

· If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.


Chester County Health Department
Government Services Center
601 Westtown Road, Suite 290
West Chester, Pennsylvania 19390
US