The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness will hold its first community clinics to immunize those at high-risk from H1N1 flu.

The clinics (drive thru and walk-in) will be held tomorrow, Wednesday November 11 and on Thursday November 12, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium located at 2800 S. Floyd St. The clinics will be held in the parking area south of Central Ave.  No appointments are necessary for these clinics.

The clinics are for these high risk groups:

• children 6 months through 4 years of age
• people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions
• healthcare workers
• emergency first responders
• pregnant women

Vaccinations will be free. The vaccine is a combination of injections (shots) and nasal mist doses.  At least 15,000 vaccine doses are available for the clinics.  Clinics will be held as long as vaccine supply lasts.  The public is urged to take advantage of free bus service provided by TARC.  TARC will offer free bus service to the clinics from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day from the following five area locations:

Urban Government Center, 810 Barret Ave.

East Government Center, 200 Juneau Dr.

Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Highway

Central Government Center, 7201 Outer Loop

The Nia Center, 2900 W. Broadway

The buses will run approximately every 30 minutes from these sites to Papa John’s Stadium and there will be a line at the walk-in clinic designated for people arriving on the TARC buses.  The public also urged to not arrive before 7 a.m.  Police will not allow traffic to back up before the start of the clinics.  The H1N1 event at the Papa John’s site is being held in conjunction with the University of Louisville who is coordinating the drive-through clinic.  Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. People can help to alleviate clinic waiting time by downloading Vaccine Information Statements and consent forms at www.louisvilleky.gov/health and by filling the forms out ahead of time and bringing them to the clinic. However, it is not mandatory to fill out these forms ahead of time to get immunized.

People are also urged to wear either a short sleeved or sleeveless shirt – something that gives nurses quick and easy access to the arm.  They are also urged to dress children 2 years old or younger in “onesies” or shorts to give nurses easy access to the thigh area.

“These are only the first of several opportunities to get H1N1 vaccine in the upcoming weeks,” said Public Health and Wellness Director Dr. Adewale Troutman. “We will be holding more community clinics as well as clinics at public, parochial and private schools.” Clinics for public, parochial and private school children in area schools are scheduled for later this month.

The Department of Public Health and Wellness has already distributed more than 47,000 H1N1 vaccine doses to 120 area hospitals and health care providers. Much of this vaccine is now available to patients at high risk of H1N1.

People with questions about the clinics or about H1N1 vaccine may phone the Louisville H1N1 Flu Hotline at 568 – H1N1 (4161). The line is answered weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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