SPOKANE -- The Spokane Regional Health District is taking appointments for another H1N1 vaccination clinic. But again, it's only being offered to high risk groups.
Eastern Washington was hit harder then Western Washington when the virus first showed up. Since then, the numbers have leveled out. But the virus is still in the community and the vaccine will be offered to the general public soon.
According to figures released by the Washington Department of Health, this current outbreak of the H1N1 virus apparently peaked towards the end of October. More than 200 people were hospitalized two weeks in a row. Those numbers steadily dropped through November.
But so far, the injectable and nasal forms of the vaccine have only been made available to start vaccines for the general public Friday afternoon. They say they expect to expand the availability of the vaccine beyond the priority groups by the end of this month. Their main concern is making sure supplies of the vaccine hold steady.
In the meantime, the health district will hold another vaccine clinic for high risk groups on December 8 and 10. There are about 250 doses available. Call the health district on December 7 to make an appointment.
Free H1N1 vaccination clinics info:
By appointment call: 324-1648 on December 7 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
December 8 clinic: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: East Central Community Center
500 South Stone
December 10 clinic: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Northeast Community Center
4001 North Cook
H1N1 vaccine eligibility
Flu Nasal Spray:
- Healthy people ages 2-24, who are not pregnant
- Healthy adults up to age 49 who are health care workers
- Healthy people up to age 49 who care for an infant under the age of 6 months old
Flu Shots:
- Pregnant women (Thimerosal-free vaccine may not be available but pregnant women can receive the regular H1N1 flu shot, when available)
- People 6 months to 24 years old
- Household contacts and caregivers of infants younger than 6 months old
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel
