News Release 

TOMPKINS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Alice Cole, RN, MSE – Public Health Director

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
Theresa Lyczko at 274-6714 or Sigrid Connors at 274-6656

Tompkins County Health Department to Continue Vaccinating Priority Groups

 
December 11, 2009 (Ithaca, NY) — The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) announced today that it will continue to vaccinate people who meet the criteria for priority H1N1 vaccination as determined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

Yesterday, Governor Paterson announced that health departments and health care providers could begin vaccinating the general population because in many areas of the state the demand for vaccination from priority groups has waned and others not meeting the criteria were requesting the H1N1 vaccine.

Next week, Tompkins County Health Department will vaccinate students at Boynton and Dewitt Middle Schools and the Ithaca High School as planned. There will also be a clinic at Beverly J Martin (BJM) elementary school. Students from Fall Creek, Immaculate Conception, Montessori schools, Cascadilla, Racker Center, Waldorf and home schoolers will also be vaccinated at BJM.

In Tompkins County not everyone in the priority groups who wants the H1N1 vaccination has been able to receive it. Therefore, people in the priority groups may continue to call TCHD at 274-6609 and leave their name and phone number. As vaccine becomes available, TCHD will contact them to set up an appointment. To date, TCHD has vaccinated over 3,600 Tompkins County residents including school children and other priority groups.

Priority groups include:

• Pregnant women
• People who care for or live with infants younger than 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical personnel
• Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with a chronic medical condition or a weakened immune system.

TCHD will begin vaccinating the general public with H1N1 vaccine in January depending on availability of the vaccine. Dates, times and location are yet to be determined. TCHD is one of many providers registered to receive and administer the H1N1 vaccine. People are encouraged to check with their provider for vaccine availability.

For more information go to www.tompkins-co.org/flu

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