On Saturday December 12, the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) will run an H1N1 vaccination clinic for Rhode Islanders in grades kindergarten through grade 12 who attend out-of-state schools. Parents and guardians must pre-register their children for this clinic. An online enrollment system is now available on HEALTH’s website (www.health.ri.gov). Clinic enrollment will close at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2.

“We encourage all Rhode Island parents and caregivers with children in out-of-state schools to enroll their children in this clinic through our website,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD MPH. “Every school-aged Rhode Island child will have the opportunity to be vaccinated against H1N1 influenza this season because immunization is the most effective way to fight the flu virus. But children who are not pre-registered for this clinic will not be vaccinated.”

The daylong clinic will run at a central, easily accessible location in Rhode Island. This location and the clinic’s times of operation will be announced on HEALTH’s website and through the media during the first week of December.

Eligible children must bring signed and dated consent forms to the clinic to be vaccinated. These forms, as well as H1N1 Vaccine Information Statements, can be downloaded from HEALTH’s website. They are available in Spanish, Portuguese and English (http://www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/schoolh1n1clinics).

Children who missed clinics at their Rhode Island schools, non Rhode Island residents, preschool students and college students are not eligible to be vaccinated at this clinic. Preschool students and children who missed the clinics at their Rhode Island schools can be vaccinated by their pediatricians and family physicians as adequate vaccine becomes available.

“Adaptability has been the key to the success of this vaccination effort thus far,” Dr. Gifford said. “Because we are continuously monitoring our state’s vaccine allocations and the uptake of vaccine among various populations, we were able to adapt our initial plans in order to make sure that Rhode Islanders who attend out-of-state schools are offered vaccine as soon as possible.”

The parents or guardians of children who cannot attend the clinic on December 12 because of religious observances should contact HEALTH’s H1N1 Information Line (401-222-8022) no later than December 2. Responders on this H1N1 Information Line (401-222-8022) are prepared to answer H1N1 influenza and vaccine questions in both English and Spanish.

Related links

• Registration Information
• Flu Vaccination Information