HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health has extended the deadline for health care providers to pre-register to be pandemic vaccination providers until Friday. DOH expects to begin receiving the state’s first supplies of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine this fall and is planning for immediate distribution.

“To help prevent the spread of the virus, one of the objectives of the H1N1 vaccination campaign is to vaccinate as many people who want to be vaccinated as possible,” said state epidemiologist Sarah Y. Park. “We are counting on Hawai‘i’s health care community to come together to help accomplish this huge undertaking, and are thankful for their kokua.”

Private primary care providers (pediatricians, internists, obstetricians/gynecologists, family physicians) and community vaccinators (retail pharmacies, community health centers, large medical groups, colleges/universities, etc.) should pre-register to become authorized vaccination providers at http://h1n1vax.doh.hawaii.gov. Hospitals and other health care facilities will be offering vaccinations to their staff and patients. Students in grades K–8 attending participating schools will also have the option of receiving H1N1 vaccination in school-located vaccination clinics.

DOH has been working with the health care community, sending medical advisories and meeting with community vaccinators to urge pre-registration. “Overall response has been steady but more registrants are needed, especially on the Neighbor Islands,” Park said. “The more vaccination providers we have in more locations, the easier and more convenient it will be for the public to have access.”

Earliest supplies of H1N1 vaccine will be delivered in limited quantities, with continuing shipments eventually supplying sufficient doses for all who wish to be vaccinated. Initial priority groups for 2009 H1N1 vaccination, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will be: