MID-HUDSON – Counties in the region have begun to receive shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine from the state and have scheduled vaccination clinics.

The Dutchess County Health Department will hold a free clinic on Saturday, December 5 at John Jay High School in East Fishkill from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment only. Log onto dutchessny.gov or call 845-486-2226 to register.

In Orange County, a clinic will be held on Monday, December 7 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Health Department offices, 124 Main Street in Goshen.  For a reservation, call 845-291-4300.

All counties have the same criteria for those who qualify for the shots, said Health Commissioner Dr. Jean Hudson.

Children over 10 years of age only need one shot, she said. The first clinic will be for people ages 10 to 24.

In Rockland County, a clinic will also be held on Monday, December 7, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Robert L. Yeager Health Center, Building A, Exhibition Hall in Pomona.  Registration may be done by calling 845-364-2633.

Ulster County Health Director Dr. La Mar Hasbrouck said H1N1 vaccine is also coming into his county.

“On a rolling basis, through the New York State Health Department, as vaccine becomes available, it is coming out to Ulster as well and health care providers are allowed to actually order directly through the state, which puts their orders in with the Centers for Disease Control, which tries to fill their order within a week,” he said.

Most of the flu being contracted now is H1N1, not seasonal flu, according to health officials.