El Paso, Texas – The City of El Paso Department of Public Health will resume operations to distribute the 2009 H1N1 Flu vaccine at a mass vaccination clinic on Tuesday (November 24, 2009).
The vaccine will be given out by appointment only at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, to individuals identified to be at high risk for developing complications arising from the 2009 H1N1 Flu. The target populations are:
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Pregnant women
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Persons who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months
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Children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years, and persons aged 25 through 64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for complications
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Children receiving long term Aspirin Therapy
The vaccine will be offered free of charge. Due to the demand for the vaccine, the Department of Public Health is utilizing an appointment system to avoid having individuals wait in long lines to receive the vaccine. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Free parking at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, will be made available only to those individuals with appointments.
“We consulted with colleagues from around the country and feel that giving the vaccine by appointment will minimize lines and help us to serve those most in need of the vaccine in the most comfortable manner,” said Michael Hill, Department of Public Health Director.
Individuals interested in making an appointment to receive the vaccine are asked to be patient when calling the Department of Public Health to make an appointment. The wait on the telephone to make an appointment may take several minutes.
To make an appointment to receive the 2009 H1N1 Flu vaccine, the public may call (915) 771-5759. The call center will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday (November 19, 2009) through Saturday (November 21, 2009). The call center will be closed on Sunday (November 22, 2009). Call center operations will resume on Monday (November 23, 2009).
Once sufficient amounts of these high risk groups have had the opportunity to receive the vaccine, the Department of Public Health intends to make the vaccine available to the general public.
