FAST FACTS:
The waiting room at the Health Department's main office on Jefferson was full shortly after the doors opened at 8AM Tuesday.
Many say they have been waiting for this shot, because they are worried about the H1N1 in the general population.
For months the vaccine was only available to high risk groups that include young children and medical professionals, but now anyone can get the shot.
Doctors say people in high risk groups need to be very proactive in getting protected from the swine flu, but are encouraging everyone to get the H1N1 vaccine. . Some have raised concerns about the shot, because it was produced so fast, but medical professionals say there is nothing to worry about.
"The vaccine is actually produced in the same way the seasonal flu vaccine is produced and had we discovered the virus earlier it probably would have been included in the seasonal flu vaccine. So it's not really any different," said Dr. Helen Morrow, Chief Medical Officer with the Memphis-Shelby County Health Department.
The vaccines is available at 9 health department clinics across the county. For a list of the clinics at times visit this website.
For more information on the H1N1 flu you can call the health department's hotline at 379-H1N1 or 379-4161.
- Free H1N1 shots are available to everyone in Shelby County
- The health department began administering the vaccine this morning
- The health department is encouraging everyone to get the shot
The waiting room at the Health Department's main office on Jefferson was full shortly after the doors opened at 8AM Tuesday.
Many say they have been waiting for this shot, because they are worried about the H1N1 in the general population.
For months the vaccine was only available to high risk groups that include young children and medical professionals, but now anyone can get the shot.
Doctors say people in high risk groups need to be very proactive in getting protected from the swine flu, but are encouraging everyone to get the H1N1 vaccine. . Some have raised concerns about the shot, because it was produced so fast, but medical professionals say there is nothing to worry about.
"The vaccine is actually produced in the same way the seasonal flu vaccine is produced and had we discovered the virus earlier it probably would have been included in the seasonal flu vaccine. So it's not really any different," said Dr. Helen Morrow, Chief Medical Officer with the Memphis-Shelby County Health Department.
The vaccines is available at 9 health department clinics across the county. For a list of the clinics at times visit this website.
For more information on the H1N1 flu you can call the health department's hotline at 379-H1N1 or 379-4161.
