DHSS Press Release |
Date: November 12, 2004 DHSS-126-2004 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Allison Taylor Levine, Communication Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 |
Contact: Donna Sharp Phone: (302) 744-4886 Pager: (302) 247-0840 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ELIGIBLE KENT & SUSSEX RESIDENTS INVITED TO REGISTER NOV. 15 FOR FLU VACCINE
New Castle County residents register Nov. 16
Kent and Sussex County residents who are in the designated high-risk groups are invited to call Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) on Monday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. to schedule an appointment for a flu shot. Eligible New Castle County residents will register Tuesday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
All appointments will be for Nov. 19, at nine DPH clinics statewide. DPH has approximately 8,000 doses to distribute to individuals in designated high-risk groups. An additional 34,000 doses are scheduled to be delivered to DPH within the next few weeks. A plan for distributing those additional doses is not yet final, but DPH will announce that information as soon as it is available.
Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will receive vaccine directly through their facilities and do not need to call to register. Individuals assigned to Dover Air Force Base will receive shots at the base's clinic.
To receive an influenza vaccination appointment, callers must live or attend school in Delaware and be:
- Age 65 or older;
- Age 9-64 with underlying chronic health conditions;
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season, which is October 2004-February 2005; or
- Age 9-18 years and on chronic aspirin therapy.
Callers should be prepared with:
- pen and paper to write down assigned appointment times, clinic location, and appointment number;
- an answer to the operators' question as to whether they live or go to school in Delaware;
- which risk criteria they meet;
- ZIP code, full name, daytime phone number, and year of birth.
Eligible Kent and Sussex County residents should call only on Monday, Nov. 15, and eligible New Castle County residents should call only on Tuesday, Nov. 16. The number is 1-800-282-8672. All residents will be scheduled at clinics in their county of residence. Callers may get busy signals and should keep trying.
Callers who receive appointments will be vaccinated on Nov. 19 at clinics around the state. DPH will disclose clinic locations only to those scheduled for vaccination. When attending the Nov. 19 clinic, individuals must bring identification, proof that they live or attend school in Delaware, and their Medicare card, if applicable.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
