Collin County Department of Homeland Security 4300 Community Avenue McKinney, Texas 75071 homelandsecurity@co.collin.tx.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2010

HEALTH ADVISORY: Collin County’s First H1N1 Mass Vaccination Clinic Planned for National Influenza Vaccination Week

(McKINNEY, Texas) – Collin County’s first H1N1 mass vaccination clinic will be held Saturday, Jan. 16 in conjunction with National Influenza Vaccination Week (Jan. 10-16, 2010). Collin County Health Care Services and Collin County Homeland Security will offer free H1N1 vaccine at the clinic being held at Anna High School, 1201 North Powell Parkway, TX, 75409. Walk-ins will be welcome from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The H1N1 clinic is open to everyone.

Staffed primarily by volunteer members of Collin County’s Medical Reserve Corps, the clinic will provide H1N1 vaccine free of charge to the general public. No appointments are necessary.

National Influenza Vaccination Week is a nationwide observance urging everyone to get vaccinated against H1N1 and seasonal flu. Between April and mid-November 2009, there were approximately 47 million cases of 2009 H1N1 flu, more than 200,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 10,000 deaths, with the vast majority of deaths occurring in children and non-elderly adults. Flu experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn to prepare for another wave of H1N1 flu during coming months.

The threat of H1N1 influenza remains as we continue through the flu season. The public is urged to get vaccinated, either by their primary physician, at the free H1N1 clinic being held Saturday, Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or at one of 68 locations partnering with Collin County Health Care Services to provide H1N1 vaccine.

For further information regarding local H1N1 vaccine availability, the public may utilize the following resources: Collin County website at http://www.co.collin.tx.us/ and Collin County Facebook and Twitter sites; Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Texas Flu Vaccine Locator at http://www.Texasflu.org; DSHS H1N1 information lines available by calling “2-1-1”; or, calling Collin County Health Care Services at (972) 548-5500.

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