Public Demand for H1N1 Vaccine Necessitates Location Change for Health Department Clinics - visit www.pimahealth.org 
**Public Demand for H1N1 Vaccine Necessitates Location Change for Health Department Clinics
Tucson, Arizona – October 16, 2009 – The Pima County Health Department, in response to public demand for the H1N1 vaccine, is relocating its clinics. The move will allow for Health Department staff to better meet the needs of the community by providing a safe, easily accessible public venue.
Beginning Tuesday, October 20, 2009, all Health Department H1N1 vaccine clinics will be held at Tucson Electric Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way. The clinic time is 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Another clinic will be held Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Effective October 26, 2009, the H1N1 vaccine clinic schedule will be:
• Mondays from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
• Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
• Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon
The clinic scheduled for tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. at the Department’s East Office, 6920 E. Broadway, will not be affected.
Priority groups for the H1N1 nasal spray include:
• Healthy young children through young adults aged 2 to 24 years of age
• Healthy household contacts and caregivers, who are less than 50 years old, of children younger than 6 months of age - because younger infants are at higher risk of influenzarelated complications and cannot be vaccinated
• Healthy healthcare and emergency medical services personnel - because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity
Priority groups for injectable H1N1 vaccine are:
• Pregnant women - because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated
• Children from 6 months through 18 years of age - because of the many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread
• Young adults 19 through 24 years of age - because of the many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population
• Healthcare workers who have a greater exposure rate to H1N1 influenza
• Caregivers of infants less than 6 months who cannot be vaccinated
Please note that in order to accommodate the new H1N1 vaccine clinic location, all regularly scheduled Health Department immunization clinics will be temporarily suspended. As such, there will not be a clinic on Monday, October 19 at the Department’s East Clinic, 6920 E. Broadway. “Out of concern for the public, and to meet the demand for the H1N1 vaccine, we have opted to establish a fixed clinic location to accommodate our community’s needs,” stated Sherry Daniels, Health Department Director. “This action will allow for a more robust response to ensuring the identified priority groups will be provided every opportunity to receive the vaccine,” Daniels said.
The H1N1 is free to those receiving the vaccine. No other Health Department immunizations will be available at these specialized clinics. Please refer to the Health Department’s website at www.pimahealth.org or call the Flu Information Line at 243-7800 or 1-866-939-7462.
Address/Location
Pima County Health Department
3950 S Country Club Rd
Tucson, AZ 85714
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 520-243-7770
Patti Woodcock
Community Relations Manager
patti.woodcock@pima.gov
520-243-7701
2500 E Ajo Way
Tucson, AZ 85713