The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is working to increase the availability of H1N1 vaccine in the state’s nursing home facilities beginning this week and continuing throughout the month of January.
While people age 65 and older were not initially prioritized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to receive the H1N1 vaccine, the elderly are still at risk for developing serious flu-related complications, especially if they have underlying medical conditions. Nursing homes face special challenges during flu season due to the close contact residents have with the staff and with each other.
“Nursing homes have the opportunity to assure that all of their residents are vaccinated and protected against H1N1,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “We want to avoid outbreaks of H1N1 in nursing homes like those that have happened in other states. Since H1N1 vaccine is now widely available in the state, we encourage anyone age 65 or older to get vaccinated to protect themselves as we expect a third wave of the virus in the coming months.”
If you are 65 years of age and older and not a resident in a nursing home facility, you still have many opportunities to get vaccinated. Beginning January 16, most Rhode Island cities and towns will hold free vaccination clinics for adults. A schedule of free public clinics is available on HEALTH’s website. Retail stores, pharmacies, and some urgent care centers are also holding vaccination clinics for adults age 18 and older. Rhode Islanders can use the Flu Clinic Locator on HEALTH’s website (www.health.ri.gov) to search for public H1N1 flu clinics at local pharmacies and retail stores.
HEALTH has been working with nursing homes to enroll them in the H1N1 Vaccine Program. Nursing homes currently enrolled in the H1N1 program will start receiving H1N1 vaccine this week. More recent enrollees will begin receiving vaccine and vaccinating residents the week of January 18.
Please regularly check HEALTH’s website, www.health.ri.gov, for the most up-to-date information about H1N1 vaccine availability. For additional information or questions, please contact HEALTH’s H1N1 Information Line at (401) 222-8022.