The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH), in coordination with municipal partners, will hold public H1N1 vaccination clinics beginning January 16. These clinics will be free of charge and no appointments are necessary. Individuals must be 18 years of age or older to be vaccinated at these clinics, but do not need to live in the city or town where the clinic is being held. To view a schedule of public clinics, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/freepublich1n1clinics/index.php. (In the event of inclement weather, clinics may be cancelled and reschedule for a later date.) No identification will be required at these clinics; however, anyone who will be vaccinated must complete and sign a consent form. To download a consent form, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/news/H1N1Advisories/MEDSPODH1N1VaccineConsentForm.pdf
“Our goal is to vaccinate half a million Rhode Islanders by Valentines Day to protect them from the spring wave of H1N1,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “Even people who consider themselves to be healthy should be vaccinated. Vaccination is the best way for people to protect themselves and their loved ones from the flu. If we vaccinate as many people as possible, it is less likely that we will see a third wave of illness this spring.”
HEALTH is seeking the assistance of volunteer providers and pharmacists to help at these clinics. Licensed healthcare providers and pharmacists interested in volunteering should contact Amy Grzybowski at the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency at 462-7335 or amy.grzybowski@us.army.mil
In addition, final clinics for all healthcare workers and first responders will be held this Saturday, January 9 at clinics run by the 10 acute-care hospitals. Each of the hospitals will run a Healthcare Service Region (HSR) clinic that is designed to vaccinate the healthcare workers and first responders in their assigned territory. HEALTH has expanded these clinics to include any licensed healthcare professional and their clinical staffs. Healthcare workers and first responders should go to the HSR clinic that covers the city or town where they work. For a complete listing of HSR clinics or to get the Information Line number for an HSR clinic, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/facilities/hospitals/about/serviceregions/index.php
“Healthcare workers and first responders are a priority group for vaccination,” said Gifford. “We encourage those who have not already been vaccinated to do so in order to protect their patients and families who may be at high risk for developing serious complications from the flu.”
All healthcare workers and first responders should bring a signed consent form and a work or volunteer identification badge or pay stub with them to the HSR POD clinic. In addition, Our Lady of Fatima’s and Memorial Hospital’s HSR PODs will require you to bring an insurance card and a slightly different consent form. All HSR consent forms can be viewed and downloaded from HEALTH’s website at http://www.health.ri.gov/facilities/hospitals/about/serviceregions/
For more information or questions, please contact HEALTH’s H1N1 Information Line at 401.222.8022.