Suffolk health officials are offering free swine flu vaccinations to those most vulnerable to the virus on the East End in two separate sessions this week.
A swine flu shot being given (AP)
Suffolk County Department of Health Services will be offer two H1N1 flu vaccine clinics, one for pregnant women and their children, the second to all individuals in priority groups who are recommended to receive the shot first.
Priority groups include pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months old, health care and emergency medical services workers, all people from 6 months through 24 years old and individuals ages 25 to 64 years old who have health conditions associated with higher risk of serious illness and medical complications from the flu.
“We ask residents who are in the high priority groups to first call their own health care providers to obtain the H1N1 immunization,” Acting Commissioner Dr. Linda Mermelstein said in a statement. “If their providers do not have the vaccine, they should come to one of our clinics, which we will be holding almost daily at venues throughout the county for the remainder of the year.”
The clinic for pregnant women and their children will be held at the Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court St. in Riverhead on Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. The clinic for priority groups will be held at Southold Town Recreation Center, 90 Peconic Lane, Peconic on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Residents with any questions about H1N1 influenza vaccine should contact their own health care providers or call the Suffolk County Department of Health Service’s H1N1 hotline at 631-787-2200, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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