Return to Cecil County Health Department Home Page

H1N1 flu vaccine is now available to all Cecil County Residents.

Beginning Tuesday, January 19, 2010, the Cecil County Health Department we will be offering FREE H1N1 vaccinations from 2-6 pm every Tuesday at 401 Bow Street in Elkton. No appointment is necessary.

Target groups (pregnant women; direct healthcare workers; people 6 months to 24 years of age; people ages 25-64 with chronic medical issues; household contacts and aregivers of children under 6 months of age; and children age 9 and under who need 28 day booster doses) are still more disproportionately affected by complications from the virus and are encouraged to get vaccinated.

The Health Department also encourages all residents to check with other providers such as physicians, pharmacies, and urgent care facilities for H1N1 flu vaccine.

If adults or children received the FluMist® form of the seasonal flu vaccination, they must wait 28 days before receiving the intranasal H1N1 vaccine. If you received the seasonal flu shot, there is NO waiting period.

To keep the H1N1 flu virus from spreading, we continue to urge the public to help stop the spread of germs and illness:

• Always cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue—and throw the tissue away. Or cough or sneeze into the inside of the elbow.
• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze and before you eat. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth. These are places germs can enter the body easily.
• Try to keep at least six feet away from sick people. This is called social distancing. H1N1 flu, like all flu, is spread through the air so keeping some distance will give the virus space to drop to the ground if someone is coughing or sneezing.
• Monitor yourself and your family for symptoms of fever, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, body aches, and vomiting or diarrhea. If you are sick, stay home from work, school or other public places until you are feeling well. Persons who have difficulty breathing or are believed to be severely ill should seek medical attention.

More information about H1N1 flu can be found at www.flu.gov and at www.flu.maryland.gov

Thank you for helping us to ‘FIGHT the FLU’.