If you haven’t received the H1N1 vaccination, you have a free opportunity to receive one at the end of the month thanks to Tanner Health System, which is offering the service to people over six months old at three regional vaccination centers.

The effort makes the second round of free vaccinations that will be offered at centers in Bremen, Carrollton and Villa Rica on designated days again this month. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals advise the community to take advantage of the service this time, since more rigid age and health requirements were given in the initial distribution based on guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

Tanner’s Communications Coordinator Tony Montcalm reported that more than 300 people came by the local facilities to get vaccinated the first time the vaccine was offered. Now, availability of the vaccine has been extended to anyone 6 months of age and older to ensure that those who want the vaccine but were ineligible for the earlier distribution have access to the vaccine.

“This is part of Tanner’s mission to improve the general health of the community,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health System. “By offering the H1N1 flu vaccine at no charge to the community and absorbing the administrative costs of the vaccination centers ourselves, we anticipate that many more people who need this vaccine will take advantage of these centers.”

Higgins General Hospital in Bremen will be administering vaccinations on Tuesday, Dec. 29, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the conference room.

Services will also be held Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Health Education and Wellness Learning Center of Tanner Medical in Carrollton. Participants can stop by Classroom 2 between 10 a.m. and noon to get their shot. Immunizations will also be available from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Tanner Medical Center in Villa Rica will also conduct services on the same day in the Education and Conference Center on site from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Classrooms A and B.

Directional signs will be available at all centers to help guide residents to the correct location to receive the vaccine. There will only be H1N1 vaccinations dispensed at these designated locations. Regular seasonal flu shots will not be available.

For more information on H1N1 vaccinations, including resources concerning prevention, visit www.tanner.org/h1n1. Maps of hospital campuses and directions to the Tanner centers can also be found at www.tanner.org.