Canby Herald Online

H1N1 vaccine imminent in Clackamas County

County prepares to distribute supplies when they arrive

• By: John Baker  
• Published: 10/1/2009 10:30:48 AM

Clackamas County is preparing to distribute H1N1 flu vaccines to county residents as quickly as possible when supplies arrive.

The first shipment of nasal vaccines will arrive the middle of next week, according to Public Health Manager Marti Franc, with injection vaccines to follow quickly behind.

“There’s a limited amount of flu mist (nasal spray) that is coming out and should arrive next week,” Franc said. “With that limited supply, what we’re planning to do is focus on children from 2 to 5 years old. We’ll focus on our primary care clinic as the primary site for administering to those without a medical home or primary care physician. We’ll work with our WIC (Women, Infants and Children) population and encourage other families to access the vaccine through the primary care clinic (1425 Beavercreek Road in Oregon City). The first week will be limited, so we aren’t going to do a broad marketing campaign. Between the WIC population and other people coming to the primary care clinic, we expect to use the limited supply up quickly.”

However, the vaccine shots will be arriving shortly after the nasal vaccines, so there should be little lag time in availability and the supplies should be sufficient for Clackamas County needs.

“We expect the vaccine (to come) on a weekly basis and to be more readily available throughout the county,” said Franc. “We’re in the process of hiring and training 40 to 50 temporary workers that will be assisting us in getting the vaccines out throughout the county.”

Overall, Oregon public health officials expect there will be enough vaccine in Oregon for widespread vaccination to launch around the middle of October at local flu clinics, with a particular focus on key priority groups.

“Over the course of the flu season we are expecting to have a large enough supply to vaccinate everyone with the H1N1 vaccine,” Oregon public health director Mel Kohn, M.D, said. “With these first shipments, children, pregnant women, health care workers and others on the priority list should be first in line.”

The priority list is:
-- Children and young adults 6 months to 24 years old;
-- Pregnant women;
-- People caring for or living with infants under 6 months of age;
-- People aged 25 to 64 with medical conditions that put them at a higher risk for influenza-related complications;
-- Health care workers;
-- Frontline law enforcement and public safety workers.

Most people should be able to get vaccinated by their health care provider, although other options will be available across the state as well. State and local public health officials will spread the word about the availability of H1N1 flu shot clinics once the vaccine begins arriving in substantial quantities. Information on vaccine availability will be posted on the state public health Web site at www.flu.oregon.gov and will also be available from the state hotline at 1-800-978-3040.

“The vaccine will go to hospitals, physicians, clinics -- everywhere that people get immunizations,” said Franc. “We are talking to pharmacists to try and get it out through their systems, as well. The initial focus will be on school districts and getting it out in that system because children are a priority group.”

Franc also indicated there could be some community clinics set up to deliver the vaccine as the doses become more plentiful.

“We want to have a lot of ways that people can access it,” said Franc. “The first way is through their medical home or health care provider.”

“Information is still coming out about how quickly and widespread the vaccine will be coming out to the state and counties,” she continued. “We’re getting daily updates, but our goal is to get it out as quickly as it arrives. We’re in contact with all of our health care providers and have set up systems to get vaccine to them as soon as it’s available.”

Regular seasonal flu shots, which do not protect against H1N1, are also recommended and are currently available. For more information, visit www.flu.oregon.gov or call 1-800-978-3040.

“We ask that everyone keep informed about H1N1 in Oregon and how they can best protect themselves and their families,” said Kohn. “Together we can slow the spread of this flu as much as possible and reduce the impact on our state.”

Since Sept. 1, there have been 16 hospitalizations in Oregon from the flu: six were confirmed H1N1 and the rest influenza A. One death was reported in September.

Public health experts continue to advise the public to take basic precautions to help slow the spread of all influenza: wash hands frequently, cover coughs and stay home when sick.

For more information on H1N1 vaccine availability, visit the Oregon Department of Human Services Web site, www.oregon.gov/DHS, or call the Oregon Public Health Flu hotline: 1-800-978-3040. 

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