H1N1 vaccine available to the public

PROVIDENCE, R.I., (WPRI) - The Department of Health announced on Thursday that the H1N1 vaccine is now available to everyone in the State.
 

Now, the agency's goal is to vaccinate half a million Rhode Islanders by Valentines Day.

The Department of Health wants at least that many people to receive the shot before then, to help protect everyone from another wave of the virus.

The public H1N1 clinics will begin January 16th.

These clinics are free and no appointments are necessary.

Individuals must be 18-years-old or older to get the vaccine at the clinics.

And, you don't need to live in the city or town where the clinic is being offered.

Director of Health, David Gifford, says even if you consider yourself healthy, you should still get the shot.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from the potentially deadly flu strain and Gifford also says we will see a third wave of the H1N1 virus in the spring, "I'm a little worried that people are thinking that H1N1 is gone, it's away, things are over and we dodged a bullet and that they don't feel a need to get a vaccine, and my goal is to make sure we avoid the 3rd wave by getting the vaccine."

No identification card is required at the free clinics.

However, anyone who wants to be vaccinated must fill out and sign a consent form.

To find out where the free clinics are, click here.