November 16, 2009 (Norristown, PA) The Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) has scheduled two walk-in H1N1 flu clinics for people in the recommended target groups. These clinics will only offer H1N1 vaccine to those who are in a high priority risk group as determined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania State Health Department. There is no charge for the immunization.

The dates, times and locations of the clinics are:

Friday, November 20th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Hope Community

Church, 2732 N Charlotte St Gilbertsville, PA,

Saturday, November 21st from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Central Montco Technical High School, 821 Plymouth Road, Plymouth, PA

Those in the recommended target group include:

• Pregnant women

• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age

• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel

• All people from 6 months through 24 years of age

• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Children from 6 months to 9 years old will require a second dose approximately four weeks after receiving the first vaccine.

A screening form can be found on the Health Department’s website at www.health.montcopa.org. Residents can download, print, fill out the form and bring it to the H1N1 flu clinic or fill out a form when they arrive.

Residents must bring their driver’s license.

The H1N1 vaccine does not protect against seasonal flu.

Also, The Pennsylvania Department of Health will hold three H1N1 clinics in each of the department’s six districts. These clinics will be held on Nov. 20, 21 and 22.

Clinic hours on Friday, Nov. 20 and Sunday, Nov. 22 will be 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hours on Saturday, Nov. 21, will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

H1N1 Clinics that will be held in the Southeast region include:

• Clinic #1 (covering Berks and Schuylkill Counties)

Reading State Office Building, 625 Cherry St., Room 401, Reading 19602

• Clinic #2 (covering Lancaster County)

Lancaster Public Safety Center, 101 Champ Blvd., Manheim 17545

• Clinic #3 (covering Delaware County)

Chichester Middle School, 925 Meetinghouse Rd., Boothwyn 19061

H1N1 Clinics that will be held in the Northeast region include:

• Clinic #4 (covering Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe Counties)

PA Expo, 501 Cetronia Rd., Allentown 18104

More information and instructions for the Pennsylvania Department of Health clinics can be seen at www.H1N1inPA.com under “What’s Hot,” 24 hours a day. Individuals without internet access can call 1-877-PA HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Lines are limited.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has distributed pproximately 101,000 H1N1 vaccine doses throughout Montgomery County which has been sent to 80 health care providers. Health Care providers can include hospitals, health care providers who care for high-risk patients, medical offices, other clinics and schools. Doctors in the community who ordered the vaccine may have already received the vaccine or will be getting it in the coming weeks. People who are interested in getting the vaccine should continue to check with their doctor’s office.

In late October, the Montgomery County Health Department received a supply of H1N1 vaccine and offered it at two walk-in community clinics to those in the at risk populations. A total of 2,336 vaccine doses were administered over two days.

The Health Department has been receiving the vaccine in several shipments. For people who are anxious to get the vaccine, we ask that they please be patient. We believe that eventually everyone who would like to get the vaccine will be able to receive it.

Over the next couple of weeks to months, as more vaccine arrives it will be distributed to more health care providers, schools, universities, public clinics and other venues.

For more information about H1N1 influenza, residents may visit:

www.H1N1inPA.com, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, or contact the Health Department at 610-278-5117 or visit the Health Department website at www.health.montcopa.org