Health Department Receives Small Amount of H1N1 Injectable Vaccine
Seeks to Reach Highest At-Risk Children With First Doses of Flu Shots
To Begin Offering H1N1 Flu Shots at Lentz Health Center on October 22
NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 20, 2009 -- The Metro Public Health Department received a small amount of H1N1 influenza injectable vaccine that is specifically manufactured for young children. The Health Department is prioritizing more than 2,000 doses received to reach Nashville’s highest at-risk children. This is the first shipment of potentially more than 130,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine the Health Department expects to receive in the coming weeks and months.
Health Department nurses will provide doses of the injectable vaccine to extremely at risk students, as well as staff at Harris Hillman School. The vaccine will also go to at-risk children who are residents at Murci-Homes.
The Health Department will offer the remaining doses free beginning Thursday, October 22 at the Lentz Health Center, 311 23rd Ave. North. The H1N1 flu shot clinic will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. as long as supplies of the vaccine last. The Health Department will offer this first shipment only to the following population:
- Pregnant women
- Children ages 6 months to 4 years old
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
The Health Department continues to offer free H1N1 FluMist nasal spray vaccine from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Lentz Health Center. FluMist will also be offered until 7 p.m. on October 22. The FluMist is only offered to those ages 2 – 49 years of age, without underlying health conditions, and not pregnant.
No shortage of H1N1 vaccine is expected. However, limited quantities and types of the vaccine come in with each shipment. Health officials will expand access to the H1N1 injectable vaccine in the coming weeks and months to every Metro Nashville Public School and at community flu shot clinics.
The latest information about H1N1 influenza and flu vaccine is available on the Health Department’s website – www.health.nashville.gov, or by calling (615) 340-7775.
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