Knox County Health Department (KCHD) is holding a H1N1 intranasal vaccination clinic at 140 Dameron Avenue this Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. H1N1 intranasal vaccinations are free and will be given on a first come, first served basis. No other vaccinations or KCHD services will be available that day.

The intranasal H1N1 vaccine is a mist approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the following people:
Those between the ages of 2 and 49 Who are healthy, and Who are NOT pregnant

Anyone fitting the FDA's qualifications above may get vaccinated at KCHD's Saturday Clinic. If you don't qualify for the mist, please check with your medical provider, pediatrician and/or obstetrician for H1N1 shot availability. Some have received vaccine delivery from Tennessee Department of Health.

KCHD offers the following additional information:

1) The intranasal H1N1 mist is a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).
2) There is no risk of developing the flu from a live virus vaccine. NO cases of flu have been linked to receiving LAIV.
3) People who work with the severely immunosuppressed should not receive LAIV. That includes patients who require special living conditions to reduce the risk of infection.
4) All others who receive a LAIV may return to work immediately without posing a risk to those for whom they care, even those who work with very young children (including newborn infants) or pregnant women.

Knox County Health Department has opened a flu information line at 215-5555. Additional information also can be found at www.knoxcounty.org/flu and www.flu.gov or by calling 211 or the Tennessee Department of Health Flu Information Line at 1-877-252-3432.