The Arlington Health Department has started to receive shipments of the H1N1 vaccine. Initially, these weekly shipments will be very limited (approximately 100 doses per week), but are expected to increase significantly as the vaccine becomes more widely available later in the season.
In the early weeks of the Town’s H1N1 vaccination efforts, the demand will far exceed the supply. The department is committed to offering the vaccinations in the most safe, fair, and efficient way. To that end, the Health Department is working closely with all Town emergency planning partners to vaccinate all residents that are at the highest risk of becoming ill from H1N1 flu. Recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have been adopted in identifying and targeting these priority groups, but we will still need residents’ cooperation and patience.
To start, the department will work with educational organizations in Town, such as schools and daycares, to vaccinate school-aged children during school hours enrolled at those locations ONLY. Parents and caregivers of these children will be notified of upcoming clinics by the school or daycare facility as those clinics are scheduled.
Our vaccine allotments are communicated to us by the state as supplies become available. Because of this, we cannot create any long term scheduling. We understand this is frustrating, but we are mobilizing as soon as we get word as best we can.
When a sufficient supply of vaccine is received, public clinics will be held to target all persons in the priority groups identified by the CDC (see list below). H1N1 flu information about these public clinics will be posted on the Town website at arlingtonma.gov/health and on the flu clinic hotline at 781-316-3413. You can also be alerted by email when public clinics are scheduled for priority groups by subscribing to Town of Arlington Notices online at arlingtonma.gov/subscriber.
Additionally, there are a number of physicians in Arlington and surrounding communities that will also have H1N1 vaccine for their high-risk patients.
The Health Department will rely on its Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) to assist with this vaccination effort. You can learn how to volunteer for the Medical Reserve Corps at arlingtonma.gov/health.
The CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health Priority Groups
• All children 6 months to 18 years of age;
• Pregnant women, up to 2 weeks post partum (including after pregnancy loss);
• Household contacts of infants younger than 6 months of age;
• Healthcare personnel with direct patient contact.
• Persons 19 - 64 years of age with high risk conditions. High risk conditions include:
• Pulmonary (including asthma)
• Cardiovascular (except hypertension)
• Renal, hepatic, cognitive, hematologic, neurologic/neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
• Immunosuppression (including that caused by medications or by HIV)
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