H1N1 influenza vaccines are available for high-priority groups at the Allegheny County Health Department's Oakland vaccination clinic, 3441 Forbes Ave.

The clinic, closed on Thanksgiving, will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Friday. Next week it will return to a regular schedule of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Free parking is available after 4 p.m. Wednesdays in a lot behind another health department building at 3333 Forbes Ave.

The clinic will provide the H1N1, or swine flu, vaccination to people most vulnerable to the flu virus. They include individuals between the ages of 6 months and 24 years; people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months; pregnant women; health-care providers and emergency medical services personnel; and people 25 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease and neurocognitive or neuromuscular disorders.

Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No appointment is necessary.

To expedite the flow of people through the clinic, health officials recommend downloading the vaccination consent form on the health department Web site at www.achd.net and taking the completed form to the clinic.

As more vaccine becomes available, it will be offered to others in the community, including people 65 and older and those between 25 and 64 who have no underlying medical conditions. For more information, call 412-687-ACHD.

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