Contact: Allison Biastock (907) 343-6718
Municipality continues to allocate vaccine to school district, hospitals, and local pharmacies and private healthcare providers
The Municipality of Anchorage is cancelling several public H1N1 Flu vaccination clinics scheduled this month and in early December. The following scheduled clinics are cancelled:
November 24, 3-5pm Downtown Transit Center
November 28, 10am-4pm Dimond Center Mall, Dimond Athletic Club
December 1, 5-9pm Dimond High School
December 3, 1-7pm Northway Mall
December 5, 10am-4pm UAA Cuddy Center
The Muni held its first public flu vaccination clinic on Saturday, November 21. H1N1 vaccine at Saturday’s clinic was limited to only those in identified priority groups*. Turnout at Saturday’s clinic was less than anticipated; similar public vaccination clinics in other Alaskan communities have also experienced lower than expected numbers.
The Municipality will continue to allocate incoming vaccine to the Anchorage School District, and local healthcare providers and pharmacies. The Municipal Health and Human Services Department will re-evaluate the need for additional clinics in the coming weeks.
“The Anchorage School District will begin its vaccination campaign in middle and high schools next week, and that will require a significant amount of vaccine,” said Diane Ingle, Director of the city’s Health and Human Services Department. “Healthcare providers and pharmacies are also going through their vaccine allocations very quickly; we want to do our best to get vaccine where there is currently a demand for it.”
“Public clinics are certainly an important part of the vaccine equation, and we plan on holding additional clinics,” Ingle continued. “However, we need a significant amount of vaccine on hand to schedule public clinics and we are having a hard time ensuring significant amounts given the limited quantities of vaccine coming into the state.”
Vaccine is currently being administered to students in the Anchorage School District, as well as through several private healthcare providers and pharmacies in Anchorage. The Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center at 1217 East 10th Avenue is offering free H1N1 flu vaccinations on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 8-11am and 1-4 pm. Vaccine is currently limited to those in a priority group*.
For up-to-date information on H1N1 flu vaccine availability and eligibility, please call the MOA Flu Hotline at 343-2525 or check our H1N1 website at www.muni.org/health
Prevent. Promote. Protect.
P.O. Box 196650 · Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6650
· 825 “L” Street · http://www.muni.org/
* The H1N1 flu vaccine priority groups are:
· Children and young adults aged 6 months - 24 years
· Pregnant women
· Caregivers and household contacts of children under 6 months
· People ages 24-64 that have underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk for complications from the flu
· Healthcare and Emergency Medical Service personnel