H1N1 (Swine Flu)

Federal health officials are investigating several cases of a new strain of swine flu. For more information, visit the Washington State Department of Health swine flu page and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site.

January 7, 2010

Clallam County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) will offer free H1N1 vaccinations to celebrate National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). NIVW is January 10 -16, 2010. CCHHS H1N1 clinics will be held January 12, 13, 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at its office in the Clallam County Court House.

CCHHS is able to offer H1N1 vaccine without charge since both the vaccine and administration costs are being funded by the federal government. Dr. Tom Locke, Clallam County Health Officer, strongly recommends that all County residents take advantage of this free vaccine to protect themselves from H1N1 influenza before the virus returns for its third wave later this winter.

In December CCHHS did vaccination clinics for all school districts in the county. Children under age 10 need a second vaccination to be fully covered. Clinics at CCHHS on January 12, 13, 19, and 20 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. will also serve children in need of their boosters. The Forks office will also provide boosters at its facility. For further information about the clinics, please contact the Port Angeles office at 360-417-2274 or the Forks office at 360-374-3121.

December 31, 2009

Clallam County Health and Human Services is providing H1N1 vaccination for people who do not have a regular source of medical care at our regular immunization clinics on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CCHHS encourages children in need of H1N1 vaccination or booster (under age 10) to participate in clinics set specifically for the schools. These clinics will be Jan. 12 from 1 to 5:30 p.m.; Jan 13 from 11a.m. to 5:30; Jan. 19 from 1 to 5:30 p.m.; and Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the CCHHS office in Port Angeles. Please contact us at 360-417-2274 for further information. The Forks office will also provide vaccinations or boosters. Please contact the Forks office at 360-374-3121 for information.

December 21, 2009

Clallam County now is vaccinating anyone that wishes to receive the vaccination. Local pharmacies and medical providers continue to offer the vaccine. Pharmacies offering vaccination are: all Safeways, QFC Sequim, all Walgreens, Jim's Pharmacy, Sav-on, Rite Aide on Lincoln, Frick's in Sequim, and Chinook in Forks. Pharmacies will be charging an administration fee which ranges from $10 to $20 for those whose insurance does not cover influenza vaccination.

Clallam County Health and Human Services will hold H1N1 vaccination clinics for people who do not have a regular source of medical care. Clinics will be December 22, 24, 29, and 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CCHHS has no January special clinics for H1N1 planned at this time.

December 16, 2009

Clallam County is off the priority list for H1N1 vaccinations. This means that anyone that wishes to receive the vaccination may do so. Local pharmacies and medical providers are offering the vaccine. Pharmacies offering vaccination are: all Safeways, QFC Sequim, all Walgreens, Chinook, Jim's Pharmacy, Sav-on, Rite Aide on Lincoln, and Frick's. Pharmacies will be charging an administration fee which ranges from $10 to $20 for those whose insurance does not cover influenza vaccination.

Clallam County Health and Human Services will continue to hold H1N1 vaccination clinics for people who do not have a regular source of medical care. Clinics will be December 17, 22, and 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

December 10, 2009

Clallam County Health & Human Services (CCHHS) has scheduled vaccination clinics for the following school districts:

• Cape Flattery district - Clallam Bay for Dec. 10
• Crescent district - Dec. 11
• Sequim district - Dec. 12
• Port Angeles district - Dec. 15 and 17
• Quileute Valley district - Dec. 18

Additional clinics will be scheduled as vaccine and staff become available.

December 7, 2009

Clallam County Health & Human Services (CCHHS) continues to be on the vaccine priority list for vaccinations. Since children are a priority group, at this time school clinics have been scheduled for the following school districts:

• Cape Flattery district - Clallam Bay for Dec. 10
• Crescent district - Dec. 11
• Sequim district - Dec. 12

Information about the clinics, permission slips, and vaccination information has been sent by these school districts. Additional clinics will be scheduled as vaccine and staff become available.

November 23, 2009

As of November 23, 2009, 10,600 doses of H1N1 vaccine has been delivered to Clallam County and another 1500 are in the pipe line. These doses have been distributed to healthcare providers and hospitals to vaccinate the priority groups. The priority groups are:

• healthcare/EMS workers
• pregnant women
• parents and care givers of infants 6 months of age and younger
• children 6 months to 24 years
• adults with serious medical conditions ages 24 - 64

Beginning in December, school vaccination clinics will be scheduled. Consent forms will be sent home from participating school districts after Thanksgiving.

November 13, 2009

As of November 13, 2009, 7500 doses of H1N1 vaccine has been delivered to Clallam County. These doses have been distributed to healthcare providers and hospitals to vaccinate the priority groups. The priority groups are:

• healthcare/EMS workers
• pregnant women
• parents and care givers of infants 6 months of age and younger
• children 6 months to 24 years
• adults with serious medical conditions ages 24 - 65.

November 5, 2009

The H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine has arrived in Clallam County more slowly than anticipated and a limited amount of the vaccine is available. Although we planned to have ample vaccine by now, production has been slow at the manufacturing level and shipments have been delayed. We anticipate an increased number of vaccine shipments in the coming weeks for Clallam County and will keep this site updated as new information is available.

As of November 5, 2009, 5300 doses of H1N1 vaccine have been delivered to Clallam County. These doses have been distributed to healthcare providers and our hospitals to initiate vaccination of priority groups.

Priority groups in Clallam County are:

• healthcare workers with direct patient contact and EMS workers
• pregnant women (at risk for complications due to H1N1 flu)
• parents and caregivers of infants younger than 6 months (infants under 6 months of age are unable to receive the H1N1 vaccine. We can protect them by vaccinating adults who take care of them)
• children 6 months to 4 years.

Plans for making vaccine available to Clallam County residents involve placing vaccine in healthcare providers office as it becomes available. We expect vaccine supply to be in most medical provider offices in the coming weeks. People should contact their healthcare provider to find out availability. Pharmacies will receive the vaccine after it becomes more readily available. We expect that this strategy will help ensure vaccine access to those individuals without a healthcare provider and also for those whose healthcare provider is not enrolled to receive H1N1 vaccine. Clallam County HHS has no mass vaccination clinics planned at this time.

October 23, 2009

Clallam County's shipment of H1N1 vaccine this week totaled 600 doses. Most has been placed with community medical providers. Pregnant females and children age 6 months to age 4 years are the priority groups for this round of vaccine. Please contact your regular medical provider regarding availability.

October 16, 2009

Clallam County received its second shipment of H1N1 vaccine. Supplies were also directly shipped to many sites within the County such as hospitals and medical providers. Most vaccine received is FluMist which is not given to pregnant women or people with chronic medical conditions. Please check with your local health provider for vaccine. No public mass vaccination clinics have been scheduled at this time.

October 9, 2009

Clallam County received its first shipment of H1N1 vaccine on October 6, 2009. Supplies were also being direct shipped to other sites within the County. The vaccine received is the live virus-type ("FluMist") which is not given to pregnant women or people with chronic medical conditions. Healthcare workers and EMS workers are in the first priority groups targeted. No date has been set for second shipment. Large shipments of the injectable, inactivated vaccine are expected in the later part of October. H1N1 vaccine does not replace the regular seasonal influenza vaccine.

September 21, 2009

Clallam County Update H1N1 (PDF) - information about H1N1. What is it? Who should get the vaccine? and other information.

Open the National Swine Flu Page (below) in Full Screen mode.