News
New Flu Clinics Scheduled in Cambridge

December 02, 2009

Cambridge, MA. The Cambridge Public Health Department has scheduled a series of flu clinics for December and January, offering vaccine for either H1N1 (swine) flu or seasonal flu. Recent shipments of both types of vaccine were a welcome arrival during a season hampered by delays and shortages in vaccine supply. Seasonal flu clinics in October were much more heavily attended than in previous years: public health nurses administered over 2,500 doses of seasonal flu vaccine to Cambridge residents in nine days, compared with the usual 3,000 doses during a full season.

"The situation with vaccine supply has been a challenge, but Cambridge is well-positioned to organize large-scale clinics on short notice," said Claude Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer for Cambridge. "Even with limited supplies, if we can vaccinate the most vulnerable people first, it provides better protection for the whole community."

During December, the health department plans to continue to focus on target groups which are most at risk for complications due to flu. To reach the largest number of children, school nurses from the department's school health program and public health nurses will team up to administer H1N1 vaccine in schools in December. There will also be a follow-up clinic for all 47 licensed Cambridge day care centers to provide booster doses of H1N1 vaccine for younger children. In early January, the Cambridge Public Health Department will host a large H1N1 clinic for target groups. A December walk-in clinic offering seasonal flu vaccine will focus on seniors and individuals with a chronic medical condition that places them at risk for complications from flu.

H1N1 (Swine) Flu Clinics

For children only


• Saturday, December 5 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Paul's Christian Life Center, 85 Bishop Allen Drive): Follow-up clinic for children in Cambridge daycare programs.
• Through December 23: Nurses will give vaccine at school to all children with signed permission forms. Schools will distribute permission forms and vaccine information to parents from now through December 11.

For Cambridge residents and workers up to the age of 24, pregnant women, parents or caregivers of infants under 6 months old, and adults ages 25 through 64 with chronic medical conditions.



• Saturday, January 9 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at War Memorial building, 1640 Cambridge Street). It is possible that January 9th, we will be able to vaccinate all adults who want the H1N1 vaccine. Please continue to check our website or call the the health department's recorded FluLine at 617-665-3855.

Seasonal Flu Clinic
For Cambridge residents and workers who are age 65 and older, or who are 6 months to 64 years with a chronic medical condition.

• Saturday, December 12 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Millers River Apartments, 15 Lambert Street).

For healthy Cambridge residents and workers age 6 months and older

• Saturday, December 12 (12 noon. to 1 p.m. at Millers River Apartments, 15 Lambert Street). Subject to availability.

During December, a limited number of appointments for H1N1 vaccination are available for children age 9 and under who do not have access to school-based vaccination, for pregnant women, and for parents and caregivers of infants under 6 months old. Cambridge residents in these groups can call 617-665-3800 to make an appointment for an H1N1 vaccination.

Additional clinics will be organized as more vaccine becomes available. For the most current updates, call the health department's recorded FluLine at
617-665-3855 or go to www.cambridgepublichealth.org.