Public Information Office
210 S. McDonald St. Suite 636
McKinney, TX  75069

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Leigh Hornsby, Public Information Officer 972-548-4772 lhornsby@co.collin.tx.us Tony Rutigliano 972-548-3711 arutigliano@co.collin.tx.us

October 14, 2004

Collin County Health Care Services receives flu vaccination shipment; vaccination clinic to open Monday

(McKinney, TX) – Collin County Health Care Services has received 2,300 doses of influenza vaccine from Aventis. The shipment arrived today.

A flu vaccination clinic will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, October 18th at the county health department, 825 N. McDonald Street in McKinney. The clinic will remain open on Monday for those who are in line by 4 p.m. If the vaccination supply is not depleted on Monday, a second clinic will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and remain open for those who are in line by 1 p.m. that same day. If the supply is depleted before 4 p.m. on Monday, those waiting in line will be notified promptly.

Collin County will follow the vaccination recommendations established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The following priority groups for vaccinations are considered to be of equal importance and are:

Collin County Health Services will dispense 1,800 doses to those in the at-risk categories listed above through the in-house health department clinic. Five-hundred doses will be set aside for additional persons in at-risk categories, such as participants in the county’s indigent program.

County health officials are encouraging persons who are not listed in the at-risk categories to understand that there is a severe shortage of vaccine and it is the county’s priority to administer vaccine to those at highest risk of complications from influenza infection.

The cost is $20 payable in cash or check. Medicare Part B is also accepted.

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County residents seeking information about vaccination supplies can visit the county website, www.collincountytx.gov . For those who are unable to access the internet, information is available on the health department’s message line at 972-548-5525.