EL PASO COUNTY - The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment’s third Community H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinic is Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Harrison High School, 2755 Janitell Road, beginning at 4 p.m. Vaccinations will be given free of charge until supplies run out, but no later than 8 p.m.

H1N1 flu vaccine shots will be given to members of these high-risk groups:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and child care providers)
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel
• People 6 months through 24 years of age
• People 25 years through 64 years of age who have  medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

What the public needs to know before coming to the clinic:

• Adult and child vaccination consent forms in English and Spanish languages are available at www.elpasocountyhealth.org for the public to download, complete and print to take to the clinic.
• There will be no parking until 12:30 p.m.
• Dress appropriately for the weather.
• Plan for the likelihood that you will need to stand in line outside.
• Adults and children should wear loose-fitting clothing that allows for arms (legs for children) to be exposed briefly for the H1N1 flu shot.
• Eat before going to the clinic.
• Those arriving ill or showing signs of illness will not be vaccinated and will be asked to leave. Parents are asked to leave sick children home with adult supervision and attend with well children only. All minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

The Health Department will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and Thursday, Nov. 19, so that Health Department staff can provide the H1N1 vaccination clinics schedule on those days. Members of the public are asked to plan to conduct business with the Health Department on other days.  

Additional Community H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinic dates/times and locations:

• The Hangar, 6436 S. Highway 85/87, Suite R, Fountain, CO, Thursday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m.
• An additional El Paso County Department of Health and Environment clinic, location to be determined (TBD), Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.

All clinics are dependent on H1N1 flu vaccine supplies and are subject to change. To confirm that the clinic is being held and that vaccine still is available, visit the Health Department’s Web site at www.elpasocountyhealth.org or call (719) 578-3199.    

H1N1 vaccine started flowing into El Paso County in October slowly, week by week. By the end of this week, El Paso County will have received a total of approximately 88,000 doses. The Health Department has been trying to provide as many access points to high-risk members of the public in El Paso County as possible, given the vaccine made available through the federal and state health department. Vaccine that has come to or through the Health Department has been supplied to medical providers in El Paso County who have registered with the Health Department to receive vaccine. H1N1 vaccine is available through some medical providers that serve high-risk populations, some pharmacies and the Health Department’s offsite large scale vaccination clinics.   

• Some areas inside Harrison High School are off limits to news media outlets, including screening and medical evaluation areas. There will be opportunities to get photos/video of vaccinations.

 For more information about H1N1 flu and where to find vaccine, visit www.elpasocountyhealth.org,  or call 2-1-1, the Pikes Peak United Way’s Health and Human Services phone line, or the toll-free Colorado Help Line at (877) 462-2911.