Akron Health Department H1N1 clinics for the week of November 16th

The Akron Health Department will be offering two H1N1 vaccine clinics at Betty Jane Community Learning Center this week. The clinics will be held on Friday, November 20th, from 4-8pm and Saturday, November 21th from 9am-1pm. Betty Jane CLC is located at 444 Darrow Road (Route 91) in the northeast Akron/Ellet area. People should not plan to arrive prior to 3pm for the Friday vaccination clinic. Since school will be letting out and parents will be picking up their children prior to 3pm, the Akron Police Department will be strictly enforcing this warning

The H1N1 vaccine is voluntary, free, and will be given on a first come, first served basis. People who have gotten a seasonal Flu-Mist vaccine must wait 28 days before they can get an H1N1 Flu-Mist, however, they may receive an H1N1 vaccination shot instead. People with questions about the clinic should call the Akron Health Department’s Flu Hotline 330-375-2876. People should not call Betty Jane CLC with questions about the H1N1 vaccine clinics.

In order to ensure that those persons most susceptible to severe complications from H1N1 flu get their vaccinations first, vaccinations at these clinics will be offered only to persons who are in the target groups identified in current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control. Those groups include:
• pregnant women
• people who live with or care for children less than 6 months
• all people 6 months to 24 years
• people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions
• healthcare workers and emergency medical workers

We ask the public to be patient and help us to focus on the priority groups in our vaccination efforts. We do expect to eventually have enough vaccine for everyone who wants to be vaccinated. More clinics throughout both the city of Akron and Summit County will be held as more vaccine is received. Clinic sites will be evenly distributed throughout the city and the county to provide access to everyone. All clinics given by the Akron, Barberton, and Summit County health departments will be posted on the website www.summitflu.org as they are scheduled.

The best way to prevent the spread of the flu virus is to follow proven safe health practices such as; frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizers, covering your mouth while sneezing and coughing, staying home if you are ill, and getting your flu vaccine.

For More Information Please Contact: Chris Partis, Public Information Officer (330) 375-2453