Pima County Health Department in Arizona Says Swine Flu Vaccine Unavailable

If you happen to be a Tucson resident in the market for the H1N1 swine flu vaccine, you're going to have to wait. The Pima County Health Department of Arizona issued a public statement regarding access to swine flu vaccine Monday, informing citizens the organization has run out of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. An expected shipment of the vaccine has not come in to PCHD, and there is no immediate word on when the flu vaccines might arrive.

As a result, this week's H1N1 swine flu vaccine clinics, previously scheduled to take place at Tucson Electric Park tomorrow and Thursday, have been "temporarily suspended". The free clinics took over Tucson Electric Park just last week. Their aim is to provide Pima County large groups of residents in high-risk groups for swine flu complications with vaccinations in an effort to stem the spread of the virus within Pima County and throughout the state of Arizona.

In a press release on their web site Monday, Pima County Health Department is citing lack of availability of the H1N1 flu vaccine. The organization says it is unknown when swine flu vaccination clinics will resume, though PCHD is saying the clinics will remain at TEP ballpark. The H1N1 shot is free of charge to those in high-risk groups, such as children and healthcare workers.

The newly-introduced decision to hold public, H1N1 swine flu vaccination clinics at Tucson Electric Park has been well-received by the public thus far, with hundreds of people having already been inoculated against the swine flu at well-organized clinics held at the South Tucson baseball stadium recently.

Swine flue vaccine clinics that were scheduled at TEP for Tuesday, October 27 and Thursday, October 29 have been canceled. An H1N1 swine flu vaccination clinic to be held on Halloween (October 31) may also be on hold, though there has been no official cancellation for that date yet.

Tucson Electric Ball Park is located at 4500 E. Ajo Way, and is home to many large-scale local events and concerts, as well as being the Old Pueblo's resident professional baseball stadium. The stadium set-up allows Pima County Health Department to serve patients faster, and lets lines move in circular fashion.

The Pima County Health Department H1N1 swine flu vaccination clinics are just that: for H1N1 flu. For seasonal flu vaccinations, residents will need to schedule an appointment with their doctor, or visit a local medical clinic (such as CVS and Walgreens clinics). Seasonal flu shots are readily available, and generally cost around $20-25 dollars. Low-income families may qualify for a reduced rate, and some insurance companies and employers will cover the cost of the vaccine, as well.