Pulaski Technical College: two year community college in central Arkansas

Current News

Mass flu vaccinations scheduled
9/29/2009

Seasonal flu mass-vaccination locations in Pulaski and Saline Counties have been confirmed for Thursday, October 29.

In North Little Rock, a drive-through and limited walk-up clinic will be held 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Dickey-Stephens Ball Park on Broadway. In Little Rock, a drive-through and limited walk-up clinic will be held 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. at the Church at Rock Creek 11500 West 36th Street, (501) 225-8684.

The Jacksonville Community Center at 5 Municipal Dr., Jacksonville, (501) 982-2613, will have a walk-in clinic from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The Saline Country mass vaccination will also be held on Thursday, Oct. 29, 10/30 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. The location is Holland Chapel Church 15523 Interstate 30, (501) 778-4546. This is a walk-in location.

Seasonal flu shots are free at the mass clinics. Participants are urged to bring private insurance cards, Medicare and Medicare cards or ARKids First health insurance cards. Vaccinations will be available for $20 after the mass-vaccination clinics have concluded.

Volunteers are needed for many different forms of assistance at mass clinics. Please contact your local health units for more information. Link to locations here.

H1N1 vaccinations will be given free of charge when they become available in mid-to-late October. Persons who are considered most at risk for complications from H1N1 flu will be the first to be vaccinated. These populations include:

Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated.
Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might help protect infants by "cocooning" them from the virus.
Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. In addition, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity.
All people from 6 months through 24 years of age.
Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because we have seen many cases of new H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread.
Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because we have seen many cases of new H1N1 flu in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population.
Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from flu.

All Arkansans should take preventive measures and not become complacent. While the H1N1 flu virus currently is acting like a virus that might be seen during a typical flu season, the concern is how the virus might mutate.