The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) in partnership with the Wellness Company, will hold H1N1 vaccination clinics for Rhode Islanders who attend out-of-state colleges and universities on December 30, 2009 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and January 6, 2010 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. These clinics will be held at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Campus in Warwick. Only students from Rhode Island 24 years old and younger who are enrolled in colleges and universities in other states will be vaccinated at these clinics. Anyone who has already pre-registered will receive an email explaining the need to complete a second registration to choose a preferred date and time for vaccination. Those students who have not yet pre-registered are required to visit HEALTH’s website at www.health.ri.gov to complete the registration process. Registration for both clinics will close on December 26 at 11:59 p.m. Only students who pre-registered will be able to attend these clinics. Walk-ins will be turned away.
“While we may have seen the peak of H1N1 activity this fall, we know that H1N1 will continue to spread throughout flu season,” said Director of Health, David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “Getting vaccinated is still the best and easiest way for college students, and others, to protect themselves and others from the flu.”
Students must complete a consent form in order to be vaccinated and should bring the signed, dated consent form and valid college I.D. with them to the clinic. Anyone eligible to receive intranasal vaccine will be required to accept FluMist, as injectable vaccine is in limited supply and reserved for those with chronic health conditions. Any student younger than 18 years of age must have a consent form signed by a parent or guardian. Consent forms, as well as H1N1 Vaccine Information Statements, can be downloaded from HEALTH’s website (http: www.health.ri.gov).
For additional information or questions please contact HEALTH’s H1N1 Information Line at (401) 222-8022.