CELINA-The Clay County Health Dept. is now offering the H1N1 flu vaccine to anyone who would like to receive it, officials announced last week.

No appointment is necessary to receive the vaccine. The Clay Health Dept. is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the vaccine will be provided at no charge.

The health department will continue to announce future H1N1 flu clinics, and information about upcoming clinics and vaccine availability are on the state Dept. of Health website at http://health.state.tn.us/H1N1.htm

There are two types of influenza vaccines that protect against H1N1 flu. Flu mist is a live vaccine containing a significantly weakened version of virus that is administered in the nose and can be provided to healthy, non-pregnant persons age 2 to 49 years.

The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine containing killed virus that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use among people 6 months of age or older, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions.

For more information about the H1N1 flu vaccines, call the Clay County Health Dept. at 243-2651 or contact the Tennessee Flu Information Line at 1-877-252-3432. Information is also available on the web at www.tn.gov/health or www.flu.gov.