Maricopa County Partners for School Vaccine Clinics on 11-2

Maricopa County Public Health Partners with Mollen Immunization Clinics to Begin School-Based H1N1 Vaccinations - Monday, November 2

PHOENIX (Oct. 30, 2009) – Maricopa County Public Health is partnering with Mollen Immunization Clinics to offer school-aged children H1N1 vaccine starting this Monday.

Vaccine clinics will be run daily in schools throughout Maricopa County with the goal of reaching every school once and then repeating those schools whose children need second doses of vaccine (those under age 9). Clinics will only be canceled if the county encounters supply issues with H1N1 vaccine.

The majority of children were able to be signed up by their parents via an online registration process at flushotusa.com. Others have used the paper registration process.

Parents were asked to fill in insurance status during the registration process and many insurance companies are accepted. For those companies not accepted, Mollen is requesting co-payment up front and will give a receipt so the family can be reimbursed by their insurance company. No child will be turned away for the H1N1 vaccine for nonpayment.

WHAT:              Video of elementary school children receiving H1N1 Vaccine

WHEN:               Monday, November 2

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: 10-12 pm

WHERE:            Desert Springs Elementary

                           6010 E. Acoma

                           B/T Greenway and Thunderbird and 56^th St and 64^th St

AVAILABLE

SPOKESPERSONS: Dr. Bob England, director of Maricopa County Public Health

Community flu shot locations will be updated on www.fluaz.org or by calling 1-877-764-2670.

Novel H1N1 Vaccine Recommendations:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that programs and providers try to vaccinate:

·         pregnant women,

·         people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,

·         health care and emergency medical services personnel,

·         persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and

·         people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

For more information on the Novel H1N1 or seasonal flu in Maricopa County, visit www.StopTheSpreadAZ.org and click on Maricopa County.

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