MinuteClinic medical clinics in select CVS/pharmacy stores offer H1N1 vaccinations

MinuteClinic medical clinics in select CVS/pharmacy stores throughout Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee are now offering H1N1 vaccinations on demand seven days a week with no appointment necessary. The H1N1 vaccinations can be obtained at MinuteClinic locations in Maryland in Baltimore and the Maryland suburbs outside the District of Columbia; in North Carolina in Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Raleigh-Durham; and in Tennessee in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville.

Priority group restrictions have been lifted in all three states and all patients are now eligible to receive the shot while supplies last.

In addition, seasonal influenza vaccine has been restocked and is also available at all CVS MinuteClinic locations in Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee at this time. The 2009 H1N1 flu virus is not the same as previous or current human seasonal influenza viruses and separate vaccinations for each are needed for patients to be protected. Patients are able to get both vaccinations in a single visit at MinuteClinic.

Vaccine supply at all MinuteClinic locations is updated daily at www.minuteclinic.com. Due to high demand, both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine availability cannot be guaranteed at time of visit. MinuteClinic accepts most insurance plans for flu shots.

Currently, H1N1 vaccine is being offered at select CVS/pharmacy locations in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas and the District of Columbia and at MinuteClinic locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages everyone to get a seasonal flu vaccination and especially those at highest risk including: young children; people ages 50 and older; those with chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease; pregnant women; and those who care for or live with people that are most susceptible to the flu and its complications. Patients who fall within the priority groups identified by the CDC for H1N1 flu vaccine include: pregnant women, individuals 6 months through 24 years of age, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, and persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions that are associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza such as asthma and diabetes.

According to the CDC, 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths result each year from seasonal flu alone. In addition, in 2009, 47 million Americans (or approximately one in six) have already had H1N1 flu. While H1N1 flu is currently active nationwide, seasonal flu typically does not reach its peak in the U.S. until January or February and can occur as late as May.