Boston holding public H1Nl flu vaccination clinic

BOSTON (FOX25, myfoxboston) - The city of Boston is holding its first set of large-scale public 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination clinics this weekend in two neighborhoods that lack community health centers, where thousands of Boston residents have gone to get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus.

The free clinics will be held at public school buildings in Hyde Park and West Roxbury. They are for Boston residents three years and older who are at high risk for complications from the H1N1 virus.

One clinic will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Hyde Park High School. The other is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the William Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury.

The free clinics are for Boston residents who fall into any of the following high-risk groups which include pregnant women, children and young people ages 36 months through 24 years, people who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, including parents, siblings, and day care providers, health care and emergency medical workers who have direct patient contact, and people ages 25 through 64 with chronic health problems.

The clinics will only offer H1N1 vaccine; no seasonal flu vaccine will be available.

Residents are being encouraged to take public transportation, and to avoid forming lines until clinic doors open at 11 a.m. They also are advised not to show up if they are sick. Both clinic sites are wheelchair accessible.

The Public Health Commission plans to hold additional public clinics as supplies of the H1N1 vaccine become more available.