The Monroe County Health Department will offer H1N1 flu vaccine from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22; and from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24. The H1N1 vaccine will be provided at no charge and no appointment is necessary.  This is the first of several community mass clinics that will be held during this flu season. 

The type of H1N1 flu vaccine being distributed is the H1N1 Flu Mist or the injectable H1N1 flu shot, both options will be available.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following groups as priority to receive the H1N1 vaccine: 

No shortage of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine is expected.

There are two types of influenza vaccines that protect against H1N1 flu.  FLU MIST is a live vaccine containing a significantly weakened version of the virus that is administered in the nose and can be provided to a healthy, non-pregnant person age 2-49 years. The flu shot is an inactivate vaccine containing killed virus that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use among people six months of age or older, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions.

The Monroe County Health Department also urges residents to receive the seasonal flu vaccination to prevent illness. The seasonal flu vaccine is particularly recommended for the elderly, young children and people with certain health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease since they are at high risk for complications from seasonal flu. Unfortunately the health department is out of the seasonal flu but expects a shipment by mid-November.

For more information about H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccines call the Monroe County Department at (423) 442-3993 or contact the Tennessee Flu Information Line at 

1-877-252-3432 or go to the Tennessee Department of Health Web site at www.tn.gov/health or www.flu.gov.