FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 4, 2009 

Contact:  Pamela Nishimoto, Public Outreach Educator, (214)491-6855

HEALTH ADVISORY: H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Offered to All Collin County Residents

(McKINNEY, Texas) – Beginning Monday, December 7, Collin County will be offering H1N1 vaccine to all Collin County residents.

Since receiving vaccine, Collin County has followed the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), offering the vaccine only to specific target groups while vaccine was in limited availability. However, vaccine is now widely available in both public and private sectors throughout Collin County and will be made accessible to all residents who desire to be vaccinated.

Collin County individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated prior to holiday travel, as some areas are more severely affected by the H1N1 virus than Collin County.

There are currently 66 provider locations who have partnered with Collin County in order to facilitate ease of access to the vaccine for residents.  Residents may receive the H1N1 vaccine for no charge, while supplies last at: Children & Community Health Center of McKinney, Collin County Adult Clinic in Plano; Express Health in McKinney; PrimaCare locations in Frisco, McKinney, Plano and west Plano. Additionally, 59 locations throughout Collin County currently providing H1N1 vaccinations for an administration fee include: Celina Drug; Texas Star Pharmacy; four Care Now locations; seven Albertsons Pharmacies; 11 Tom Thumb Pharmacies; 13 Kroger Pharmacies; and 22 Walgreens Pharmacies.

The 66 Collin County locations include:

·         Albertsons Pharmacies - All Collin County locations
Hours of Operation: Varies by location
Serving: Ages 18 to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Injectable
Fee: $20
Website: www.albertsons.com

·         CareNow - Allen
1218 W. McDermott, Allen, Texas 75013
(972)390-9000
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable
Fee: $20
Website: www.carenow.com

·         CareNow – Frisco Preston
5644 Preston Road, Frisco, Texas 75035
(972)529-4545
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable
Fee: $20
Website: www.carenow.com

·         CareNow - McKinney
809 N. Central Expressway, McKinney, Texas 75070
(972)529-4500
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable
Fee: $20
Website: www.carenow.com

·         CareNow - Plano
3821 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas 75023
(972)599-0077
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable
Fee: $20
Website: www.carenow.com

·         Celina Drug
701 N. Preston Road, Suite #210, Celina, Texas 75023
(972)382-2832
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Serving: Ages 8 to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Injectable
Fee: $15

·         Children & Community Health Center of McKinney
120 S. Central Expressway #106, McKinney, Texas 75070
(972)547-0606
Hours of Operation: By Appointment
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Injectable
Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
Website: www.cchc-vim.org

·         Collin County Adult Clinic - Plano
2520 K Avenue, Plano, Texas 75074
(972)423-4941
Hours of Operation: Saturday, December 5, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
Website: www.collincountyadultclinic.org

·         Express Health – McKinney
1505 Harroun Street, Suite C, McKinney, Texas 75070
(972)548-2722
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
Website: www.expresshealthnow.com

·         Kroger Pharmacies - All Collin County locations
Hours of Operation: Varies by location
Serving: Ages 8 to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Injectable
Fee: $10
Website: www.kroger.com

·         PrimaCare – Frisco
7227 Preston Road, Frisco, Texas 75035
(972)377-7878
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
Website: www.primacare.com

·         PrimaCare – McKinney
1920 W. Eldorado Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75069
(469)952-3737
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
Website: www.primacare.com

·         PrimaCare – Plano
3304 Alma Drive, Plano, Texas 75023
(972)424-6581
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
Website: www.primacare.com

·         PrimaCare – Plano West
5076 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75023
(972)424-6581
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
Website: www.primacare.com

·         Texas Star Pharmacy
3033 W. Parker Road, #100, Plano Texas 75023
(972)665-3129
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
Fee: $19
Website: www.pharmaciesplano.com

·         Tom Thumb Pharmacies - All Collin County locations
Hours of Operation: Varies by location
Serving: Ages 8 to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Injectable
Fee: $15
Website: www.tomthumb.com

·         Walgreens Pharmacies - All Collin County locations
Hours of Operation: Varies by location
Serving: Ages 8 to 64 years
Vaccine Available: Injectable
Fee: $18
Website: www.walgreens.com/marketing/storelocator/find.jsp 

To protect against the spread of illness, follow these everyday actions:

·          Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue in the trash after use. No tissue available? - Cough into sleeve.

·          Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

·          Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are easily spread from person to person or person to surfaces due to first touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

·          Stay home when sick. CDC recommends sick individuals stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid spreading infection.

For further information regarding H1N1 vaccine availability, the public is encouraged to utilize the following resources: Collin County website at http://www.co.collin.tx.us/ and the Collin County Facebook and Twitter sites; the DSHS Texas Flu Vaccine Locator at http://www.Texasflu.org; call the DSHS H1N1 information lines available by calling “2-1-1”; or, call the Collin County Health Care Services at (972) 548-5500.

Collin County includes all, or portions of the following communities:  Allen, Anna, Blue Ridge, Carrollton, Celina, Copeville, Dallas, Fairview, Farmersville, Frisco, Garland, Josephine, Lavon, Lowry Crossing, Lucas, McKinney, Melissa, Murphy, Nevada, New Hope, Parker, Plano, Princeton, Prosper, Richardson, Royse City, Sachse, Saint Paul, Van Alstyne, Weston, Wylie.