Health Alert
PLANNED 2009 H1N1 VACCINE TARGET GROUP EXPANSION AND AVAILABILITY OF H1N1 VACCINATION IN PHARMACIES

Target Group Expansion

The 2009 H1N1 vaccine supply in Delaware has significantly increased over the past few weeks and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has been able to order vaccine to fill most provider requests. As a result, DPH is advising Delaware healthcare providers that effective Thursday December 31 they may make the H1N1 flu vaccine available to all Delawareans above the age of 6 months who want the vaccine, including those who are not in priority groups established by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

DPH will issue a media release announcing the expanded availability on Thursday December 31. Healthcare providers should expect a surge in requests for H1N1 vaccination requests after this date, especially from persons above 64 years and from healthy adults between 25 and 64 years. Providers may order additional vaccine from DPH by faxing the number of doses needed to the DPH Immunization Program at the following fax numbers:

• Dover area: (302) 739-2555
• Outside of Dover: (800) 318-0810

Vaccination in Pharmacies

Major pharmacy chains in Delaware are expected to receive H1N1 vaccine next week under an agreement with the federal government. Nationally, the pharmacies involved include Costco (Maxim Wellness), CVS, Duane Reade, Kroger, Publix, Rite Aid, Safeway, SUPERVALU, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart (Mollen Clinics). At this time, the specific pharmacies in Delaware participating in this federal program, when they will have vaccine and the amount of vaccine they will have are not known. DPH will issue additional health alerts as this information becomes available. By law, pharmacies in Delaware cannot vaccinate persons younger than 18 years.

NOTE TO PHARMACIES: PHARMACIES PARTICIPATING IN THE FEDERAL PROGRAM SHOULD ORDER VACCINE FROM DPH ONLY AFTER THEY KNOW HOW MUCH VACCINE THEY WILL BE RECEIVING VIA THE FEDERAL PROGRAM AND CAN ASSESS THEIR REMAINING NEED. PHARMACIES NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE FEDERAL PROGRAM WILL BE SENT THEIR PRE-REGISTERED DOSES BEGINNING NEXT WEEK.

Questions about this health alert should be directed to DPH’s Immunization Program at 1-800-282-8672.

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