Officials of the St. Joseph County Airport Authority have announced that free H1N1 vaccine will be available for anyone who wishes to receive it next week in the terminal building at the South Bend Regional Airport.

The vaccine, in both injection and spray form, will be available Tuesday, February 16, through Friday, February 19, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day. No appointments are necessary. The vaccine will be administered by medically-trained personnel in a conference room off the main ticketing lobby just west of the Allegiant Air ticket counter at the east end of the terminal.

Although fears of a pandemic have lessened somewhat in recent weeks, there is still a concern regarding the possible spread of the often-deadly H1N1 flu strain especially to those who might be considered at an elevated level of risk of contracting the disease.

The vaccine will be available not only to employees of the Airport Authority and the airport’s tenants and their dependents but also to members of the traveling public and the general area public who would wish to come to the airport to receive it. Members of the general public who might be coming to the airport are reminded that there is thirty minutes of free parking available in the portion of the parking lot immediately across from the main entrance door of the terminal.

The Airport Authority and the Indiana State Health Department are cooperating in making this service available to the area.

(For further information, contact Frank Flanagan at 574-282-4590, ext. 251)