Massachusetts led the nation in vaccinating its residents against both H1N1 and seasonal influenza during the fall and winter. Thirty-six percent of residents were vaccinated against H1N1, compared with twenty-one percent nation-wide. Fiftyseven percent of the state’s population received seasonal flu vaccinations, compared with thirty-seven percent of the country.

The Sharon Health Department is very pleased to have been part of this very successful state-wide effort. We are proud to have taken extra efforts which were effective in reaching a large number of residents in a short period of time. Once again, we wish to thank all those who helped in this important outreach effort. We absolutely could not have been this successful without their collaboration and assistance.

We also want to remind residents that it is not too late to be vaccinated against H1N1. Although it is not in the news these days, cases of H1N1 continue to occur, and may rebound later in the spring or summer. The H1N1 strain will be included in the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine. In the meantime, if you haven’t received your H1N1 vaccine yet, it is available on a walk-in basis at the Health Department in Town Hall on Tuesdays 3-5 p.m., and Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9-10:30 a.m.