Press Release

• Tweet

November 4, 2009

Contra Costa Health Services will hold the first of four community H1N1 (swine) flu vaccination clinics this Saturday at Hilltop Mall in Richmond. Both H1N1 and seasonal flu shots will be offered for free to priority groups according to vaccine availability, said Contra Costa Public Health Director Dr. Wendel Brunner. The clinic runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the JC Penney parking lot. This clinic will not be a drive-through due to traffic safety concerns because of the high number of people expected. Parking will be available.

Because supplies of the H1N1 flu vaccine are currently limited, only people in these groups will be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine at Saturday's clinic: pregnant women; children 6 months through 4 years old; children who are 5 years through 18 years old with chronic medical conditions; and people who live with or provide care for infants under 6 months of age (parents, siblings and daycare providers).

"Flu vaccine will be available only for these priority groups because we want to protect first those who are most at risk for severe complications from flu. We wish we had vaccine for everyone right now and it is expected that there eventually will be enough for everyone who wants to receive it," Dr. Brunner said. "We appreciate the public's patience and will provide updates on vaccine availability as soon as new information becomes available."

The flu clinics are intended for people living in Contra Costa County who are in the priority groups and unable to get H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine from their own health care providers. Only the injectable form of the vaccines will be available at the clinics. More than 80,000 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine have been delivered to providers in Contra Costa, and everyone is encouraged to contact their health care providers first for the vaccine, Dr. Brunner said.

Seasonal flu vaccine also will be available at the community clinics for the following priority groups: everyone 60 years and older, pregnant women, and everyone 4 years and older with chronic medical conditions.

The Richmond community flu clinic is sponsored by Contra Costa Health Services, Hilltop Mall, and JC Penney and will be held in the JC Penney parking lot, 2200 Hilltop Mall Road. Three other community flu clinics are planned to be held in Contra Costa County. For more information on upcoming community flu clinics, H1N1, and prevention tips, visit www.cchealth.org or call 1-888-959-9911 or 211 for prerecorded information.

# # #