DHSS Press Release

CLINICS TO VACCINATE UP TO 3,000 HIGH-RISK DELAWAREANS NOV. 20-22

Eligible Residents Should Call 1-866-408-1899 On Nov. 16 For Appointment-Only H1N1 Vaccinations

Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) will hold three H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics Nov. 20, 21 and 22 to vaccinate up to 3,000 people who are at highest risk for influenza and have not yet obtained a vaccination.

The vaccinations will be administered by an eight person team from the federal government that is traveling to states to assist with vaccinations of the highest-priority groups. Delaware is the first state to hold these clinics.

Only eligible persons with appointments will be vaccinated in the clinics, which will be held at Delaware Technical & Community College campuses in each county. Delawareans eligible to receive the vaccine include:

• Infants and children 6 months to 4 years of age
• Pregnant women
• Those 5 to 64 years of age with chronic conditions diagnosed and documented by a physician. Individuals must have had regular medical follow-up or been hospitalized during the preceding year. Chronic conditions include heart disease (except high blood pressure), diabetes, asthma and other diseases of the lung, kidney and liver disease, neurological or neuromuscular disorders, blood disorders, cancer and weakened immune systems due to cancer treatment, medications and HIV/AIDS

"With thousands of children being vaccinated in schools this month and increased supplies of vaccine reaching the medical community in recent weeks, we are making progress in Delaware's H1N1 vaccination campaign," said Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of DPH. "These clinics are an opportunity to vaccinate a large number of people in a short period of time with help from the federal government. But the reality is there are many people in the highest risk groups for H1N1 that have not been able to be vaccinated yet, so we are targeting those priority populations with these clinics."

Appointments for these clinics can be made by phone on Monday, Nov. 16 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. To schedule an appointment, Delawareans in the priority groups described above should call 1-866-408-1899. Appointments are provided on a first-come, first-served basis to those eligible, and will only be taken on the 1-866-408-1899 phone line.

Callers can schedule up to six appointments for family members or others on one call, with the appointments at one site or at different sites. Those with appointments should bring their confirmation number and photo identification.

People who do not meet the clinic criteria should consult their private physicians.

Next week's H1N1 vaccination dates and locations are:

• Fri., Nov. 20, from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. – DTCC/Terry Campus, Dover
• Sat., Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. – DTCC/Stanton Campus, New Castle
• Sun., Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. – DTCC/Owens Campus, Georgetown

A second set of clinics will be held in mid-December, and DPH will accept second shot appointments for children under 10 years old next week. Eligible Delawareans who call for an appointment Nov. 16 and cannot be accommodated in the Nov. 20-22 clinics will also be scheduled for the December clinics.

For additional information about both H1N1 and seasonal vaccines, please see our website at www.flu.delaware.gov

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.