The wait is finally over for healthy adults aged 25-64: you too will now be able to receive an H1N1 vaccine in the District of Columbia, regardless of whether you have a preexisting condition. The D.C. Department of Health announced today that this final expansion of eligibility goes into effect on Monday, December 13.

Many local doctor’s offices and health centers began receiving doses of the vaccine a few weeks ago, so check with your doctor to see if they have enough for you. I also recommend the city’s free clinics, though there aren’t as many scheduled now as there were in previous months. The first free clinics that will be open to any and all adults will be held Thursday, December 17 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Fort Davis Community Center (1400 41st Street SE), and Saturday, December 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street NW). Visit flu.dc.gov for updates on vaccine clinic schedules, as well as details on other locations, including pharmacies, that now have the vaccine.

A DOH press release notes that over 23,000 vaccines have already been given at the city’s clinics, with another 120,000 doses distributed to doctors, community health centers, hospitals and universities. Individuals with preexisting conditions such as asthma or diabetes are especially urged to get the vaccine if they haven’t already.