Health departments to administer an additional 90,000 doses of influenza vaccine

The Alabama Department of Public Health will distribute an additional 90,000 doses of influenza vaccine and will administer them on Nov. 16 and 17 through all county health departments to high-risk individuals.

Vaccine will be administered statewide on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals with the

last names beginning with the letters below will be vaccinated as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 16, A through K

Wednesday, Nov. 17, L through Z

Influenza immunizations will be given to persons in priority groups beginning at 8 a.m. each day

until the supplies are exhausted.

Priority groups for vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine are:

all children aged 6-23 months,

adults aged 65 years or older,

persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions,

all women who will be pregnant during influenza season,

residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities,

children 6 months-18 years of age on chronic aspirin therapy,

healthcare workers with direct patient care, and out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months.

A formula based on original orders made for the community, census population of at-risk individuals and need based on survey information will be used to allocate vaccine as was done in the earlier vaccine distribution in October. Each county will receive a minimum of 200 doses.

Furthermore, additional vaccine is anticipated to be received by both private medical providers and the state health department within the next month.

The Mobile County Health Department will have a separate distribution procedure using its automated telephone appointment system.