CENTRAL OHIO -- Getting your H1N1 vaccine will be a whole lot easier as health departments make the shot available to everyone next week.
Health officials both locally and nationally have affirmed that another surge or a third wave of H1N1 influenza cases will hit in the coming months.
With that in mind, your options to get the vaccine are better than ever.
"Now is the time to open this up to everyone because everyone is at risk for this virus. It does have a higher risk for certain groups, but we want to make sure everyone is covered this holiday season," Dr. Mysheika Williams, with Columbus Public Health, said.
First, the Ohio Department of Health has authorized local health departments to lift eligibility restrictions on the H1N1 vaccine.
Starting next week, many county health departments will be able to administer H1N1 immunizations to anyone medically able to receive them.
Walmart is offering the vaccines to those in high-risk groups: All children/young adults 6 months through 24 years old, adults age 25 through 64 years old with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women, adult caregivers of children younger than 6 months old, all health-care workers and children younger than 10 years of age who need a second dose of the vaccine.
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