There are two flus, seasonal flu and H1N1, circulating this year. Protecting against the two flus requires two vaccinations.
The H1N1 flu requires a separate vaccination.
The vaccine for one flu does not protect against the other flu. The two flus pose different risks to different groups of people (see below). Most people should plan to get both flu vaccinations.
A flu shot will not give you the flu.
CONTACT US
For more information on flu, call the ADH hotline at 1-800-651-3493. Hours of operation:
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
CDC Hotline:
1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
1-888-232-6348 TTY 24 Hours/Day
Vaccine Availability
Please continue to check here about vaccine availability.
More H1N1 vaccine is arriving. Vaccine is currently being shipped to some private providers who have pre-registered to distribute vaccine (pediatricians, family practice doctors, internal medicine doctors, hospitals and OB/GYNs). These are the people who should check with their physicians about receiving vaccine: pregnant women and people who have underlying medical conditions include those with: chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus); are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection; are residents of long-term care facilities.
More mass flu clinics will be scheduled in December and we will increase the priority groups that can receive H1N1 vaccine, depending on supply. Eventually, anyone who would like to receive the vaccine can do so.
According to the CDC, the priority groups recommended to receive vaccine first are pregnant women, persons ages 6 months through 24 years, health care workers and emergency medical responders, people caring for infants under 6 months of age, and people ages 25-64 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
Also, seasonal vaccine will be available at the mass flu clinics as supplies allow.
If you are pregnant and have not received vaccine, please contact your physician or local county health unit. School clinics scheduled through December statewide will continue to give seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine as supplies allow to students in grades K-12.
Flu Clinic Schedules
Mass Flu Clinics
A Mass Flu Clinic is a day-long event during which the community comes together to immunize as many people as possible. ADH staff, health professionals and volunteers work as a team to provide vaccine. Some clinics offer “drive-thrus” – you don’t even leave your car. At our mass flu clinics this year, we will also be giving H1N1 vaccine as supplies become available. There will be no charge to you for the flu shot at our mass flu clinics, but please bring your insurance, Medicare and/or Medicaid cards with you if you have one. Seasonal flu vaccinations provided at our local health units will be $20. vaccine – as supplies become available.
Mass Flu Clinic Sites - Check back for upcoming clinic dates
School Flu Clinics
As part of Governor Mike Beebe’s health initiative and with funding provided by the federal government and the tobacco tax passed during the recent legislative session, the ADH, the Arkansas Department of Education and local school districts statewide are offering the seasonal flu shots to school children in grades K-12 beginning in mid-October through December. ADH staff and school health professionals will vaccinate children in roughly 1100 schools. All vaccinations are voluntary. We will also be giving H1N1 vaccine to these children – a priority group for the vaccine – as supplies become available.
School Clinic Sites - PDF 11.20.09 The ADH will work with public and private schools that have not scheduled a clinic and work towards meeting their needs.
Influenza Immunization Reporting Form - PDF Please review this form before you come to the mass flu clinic. You can fill out a form at the clinic. You can also print out the form, fill-in your information and bring it to the clinic. Please note: the form must be printed on one sheet of legal-size paper front and back. Clinics will not accept a form printed on two separate sheets of paper.
Vaccine Priority Groups
H1N1
Pregnant women
Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
Seasonal
Those age 65 and older
Children younger than 2 years old
People of any age who have chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma, congestive heart failure, lung disease)
Vaccine Safety
The benefits of immunization outweigh the risks. All vaccines, including the H1N1 vaccine, are held to the highest standard of safety and are continually monitored.
Each year, millions of Americans safely receive seasonal flu vaccines. The H1N1 vaccine is made the same way as seasonal flu vaccine by the same companies that make seasonal flu vaccine. The National Institute of Health (NIH) conducted clinical trials for the H1N1 vaccine. The vaccine has been tested and safely used in children, pregnant women and adults
The H1N1 vaccine can prevent serious illness or even death, particularly for those who seem most vulnerable to the H1N1 flu. Not getting vaccinated could result in disease or putting others, such as babies or people with cancer, at serious risk for illness. If you care for a young baby, it’s important that you get vaccinated so you can protect your baby.
AETN Program: Seasonal Flu and H1N1: The Facts - Video Provides information on how to prepare for the seasonal flu and H1N1. A panel of health experts will discuss prevention, vaccinations, differences, precautions, etc
beginning in mid-October through December. ADH staff and school health professionals will vaccinate children in roughly 1100 schools. All vaccinations are voluntary. We will also be giving H1N1 vaccine to these children – a priority group for the vaccine – as supplies become available.
