SnoCo H1N1 Vaccine Clinics Canceled; KingCo Pharmarcies Get 15,000 Doses

Snohomish County has canceled all the mass swine flu vaccination clinics that had been scheduled for this weekend (Nov. 7 and 8). Instead, limited supplies of the vaccine are being distributed to local doctors' offices whose patients are at highest risk of complications from H1N1 virus, including:

• Pregnant women
• Anyone from age 6 months to 24 years old
• People who care for children younger than 6 months of age
• People age 25 to 64 who have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart problems
• Teachers and child care providers age 64 and younger.

The vaccine won't be available at retail pharmacies, and some health-care providers won't get it until the supply improves. A list of the providers who have a small supply of the vaccine is available online at www.snocoflu.com and will be updated weekly.

Tens of thousands of people lined up to get the H1N1 vaccine in Snohomish County last weekend. About 20,000 people got it; some had to wait up to four hours.

Read more on Snohomish County's H1N1 Web page or The Herald's story.

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UPDATE 11/6: About 15,000 dozes of H1N1 vaccine have been distributed to nearly four dozen pharmacies in King County, which will be vaccinating at-risk people. Many of the 44 participating pharmacies started taking appointments by phone on Friday. Some will hold walk-up clinics starting next week. For more information, about who's eligible for the vaccine, read Public Health – Seattle & King County's news release.

Public Health – Seattle & King County ran out of its supply and suspended operations at four H1N1 vaccination clinics on Oct. 23, three days after they opened. Roughly 3,000 vaccines were given to high-risk people.

The agency says most of the more than 400 health care providers that requested the vaccine were expected to receive an initial allotment of 10 percent of their supply by Oct. 30. An additional 67,000 doses have been ordered and are expected to be in King County by Friday (Nov. 6).

Check the Public Health's H1N1 Web page for updates or call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464) Monday thorugh Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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About 11 percent of Pierce County's requested supply of swine flu vaccine had arrived as of Tuesday (Nov. 3). Most of it – nearly 62,000 doses – has been shipped to large health care providers and pharmacies. About 17,000 doses have gone to the Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health Department, which is contacting pharmacies and OB/GYN offices to determine where shortages of antiviral medication might be a concern.