National Influenza Vaccination Week begins

RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will recognize January 10-16, 2010, as National Influenza Vaccination Week.

H1N1 influenza is unpredictable and the likelihood of a future wave of H1N1 influenza is unknown. But if more people are vaccinated, the less everyone has to worry about future waves of H1N1 disease.

"This vaccine has proven to be safe and a good match for H1N1. It is the very best defense against the flu," Commissioner Remley said.

The CDC estimates that between mid-April and November 14, 2009, 47 million people in the United States were infected with the H1N1 flu, at least 200,000 people were hospitalized and more than 9,800 people died, with the vast majority of deaths occurring in children and non-elderly adults.

Virginia has plenty of H1N1 vaccine. It is now available to anyone who wants to be protected from this strain of flu. The vaccine can be easily found at multiple provider sites, such as private physician offices, health departments, clinics, pharmacies and large retailers.

Local health departments across Virginia plan to hold H1N1 vaccination clinics during National Influenza Vaccination Week, Jan. 10-16, 2010. H1N1 vaccinations provided by local health departments are free. The following is a sampling of these events:

Eastern Shore Health District

• Accomack Health Department, 23191 Front St., Accomac, (757) 787-5880

Jan. 12, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., walk-in
Every Wednesday, 1-4 p.m., walk-in

• Northampton Health Department, 7114 Lankford Highway, Nassawadox, (757) 442-6228

Jan. 11, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.,walk-in
Every Wednesday, 8:30 - 11 a.m., walk-in

Hampton Health District

• Hampton City Health District, 3130 Victoria Boulevard, (757) 727-1172

Jan. 11-13, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 14, noon - 8 p.m.

• Sentara Port Warwick, 11803 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News

Jan. 13, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., 4 - 8 p.m.

• Sentara Careplex Hospital, 3000 Coliseum Drive, Hampton

Jan. 14, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., 4 - 8 p.m.

• WIC Building, 1320 LaSalle Ave., Hampton

Jan. 14, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Norfolk City Health District

• Norfolk City Health Department, 830 Southampton Ave., Suite 200, (757) 683-2796

Mon.-Fri., 2 - 4 p.m.
Evening hours Tuesdays, 4 - 7 p.m.

• Little Creek Clinic, 207 E. Little Creek Road, Norfolk, (757) 521-2136

Mon.-Fri., 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., 1 - 3:30 p.m.

Peninsula Health District

• Peninsula Health Center, 416 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, (757) 594-7069

Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., by appointment
Evening hours Wednesdays, 1 - 7 p.m., by appointment

Virginia Beach Department of Public Health:

• Saturday, Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Larkspur Middle School, 4696 Princess Anne Road
• Monday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Plaza Middle School, 3080 South Lynnhaven Road
• Weekdays throughout January from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the VBDPH, 4452 Corporation Lane, with two exceptions. The VBDPH will be closed on Friday, Jan. 15 and Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Lee-Jackson Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, respectively.

VB Clinics for Students Needing the Second Dose of the Vaccine:

• Tuesday, Jan. 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Diamond Springs Elementary School, 5225 Learning Circle
• Thursday, Jan. 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Malibu Elementary School, 3632 Edinburgh Drive
• Tuesday, Jan. 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Seatack Elementary School, 912 S. Birdneck Road
• Thursday, Jan. 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Holland Elementary School, 3340 Holland Road
• Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Princess Anne Elementary School, 2444 Seaboard Road
• Thursday, Jan. 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. at College Park Elementary School, 1110 Bennington Road

More information about H1N1 flu and vaccination is available from the Virginia Department of Health Inquiry Center toll free weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-877-ASK-VDH3 (1-877-275-8343) and online at www.H1N1GET1.com .