Free H1N1 flu vaccination on Dec. 18

A free, H1N1 vaccination clinic will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18 in Tolland.  It is open to residents of Tolland, Mansfield, Andover, Ashford, Bolton, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Scotland and Willington.

The location of the clinic is disclosed at the end of the pre-registration form. Walk-ins are will not receive a vaccination.

There is no charge for the vaccination, and you do not have to have health insurance. However, you must pre-register on the Eastern Highlands Health District Web site at http://www.ehhd.org or at your local library.

And you must fall within one of these priority groups:

• Pregnant women

• The primary caregiver for (and adults living in the home with) an infant younger than 6 months of age;

• Children ages 6 months through 18 years (Important: a parent or guardian must attend the clinic with all children younger than 18-years-old. Unaccompanied minors will not receive a vaccination at this clinic.)

• An adult age 19 through 64 years old who has a chronic medical condition that puts him/her at higher risk for influenza-related complications. These conditions include:

Asthma

Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury].

Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)

Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)

Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)

Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)

Kidney disorders

Liver disorders

Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)

Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)

Adults who provide services to patients in a health care setting. For example: a physician, nurse, nursing assistant, therapist, technicians, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, pharmacist, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, student or trainee in health care,or other profession that works at but is not employed by a health-care facility (e.g., clerical, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, and volunteers).

Posted Dec. 14, 2009