Spokane--As the number of H1N1 flu cases drops in the region scarce swine flu injectable shots are finally starting to arrive.
The Spokane Regional Health District told KREM 2 News that they’ve received 10,000 injectable doses of the swine flu vaccine in the last ten days.
Many patients have medical conditions that prevent them from receiving the more plentiful nasal vaccine, so the injectable shots have been in great demand.
The Health District said that the delay for the shots was probably due to transportation problems and manufacturers taking a longer time to make the vaccine.
Rockwood Clinic, one of the largest health clinics in the area, only had a few injectable shots on hand until they received 1,500 doses as part of 10,000 doses given to the Health District. Rockwood health care workers will be injecting patients at a clinic on Saturday by appointment.
The Health District will have 2,200 doses of the injectable form available for the four clinics its holding from Dec. 1-10.
Those will be the only other clinics offering the shot form of the vaccine since the Health District gave 300 shots at their walk-in clinic at Spokane Veterans Arena last month.
Those clinics will be held at the following locations:
December 1, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Spokane Valley Partners
December 2, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. West Central Community Center
December 8, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. East Central Community Center
December 10, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Northeast Community Center
These clinics will also offer the nasal vaccine.
You must schedule an appointment in advance by calling 324-1648 and meeting the following qualifications set forth by the Centers for Disease Control: pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants younger than six months old, healthcare and emergency medical workers, anyone from six months to 24 years of age, and people from 25 to 64 years of age with a chronic health condition.
The Health District also warned that despite dropping numbers of cases of swine flu, the H1N1 illness remains at high levels and could increase at any time this winter or spring.
