850 Children, Students Are Vaccinated At MIT Medical H1N1 Influenza Clinic
Over 100 students who came to MIT Medical between 12 and 3 p.m. on Wednesday received H1N1 vaccines.
Medical had prepared 1000 vaccines in vials for a clinic meant for children under age 17, but, after a low turnout from the target group, Medical decided to open up the clinic to all students under the age of 24, since any unused vaccines would have expired the next day, said MIT Medical Chief of Internal Medicine Howard M. Heller.
In total, close to 850 children and students were vaccinated.
In an effort to tell as many students as possible that the vaccines were available on short notice, Medical sent e-mail to all Medlinks. Heller also posted the announcement on his Facebook account.
MIT receives all its H1N1 vaccines from the Massachusetts state government, but the shipments have been small and have arrived at unexpected times, said Heller. The first shipment of vaccines arrived at MIT Medical a couple of weeks ago, and, this past Friday, the state health department told MIT Medical that a new shipment of vaccines would be arriving on Monday. The shipment prompted the clinic that happened this week.
MIT Medical follows the Center for Disease Control’s H1N1 vaccination protocol, which gives priority to pregnant women, medical staff and doctors, and young children. According to the MIT Medical website, vaccines are currently available to members of the MIT community who are pregnant. Pregnant women can arrange appointments by calling 617-253-4865.