King County Public Health sends H1N1 vaccine to certain area pharmacies, but supplies short

King County Public Health is making H1N1 flu vaccine available for persons at high risk for H1N1 influenza at certain area pharmacies. Some of these pharmacies are accepting vaccination appointments now.

Due to the national delay in vaccine production, H1N1 vaccine is still in short supply and coming in to the county slowly. Public Health is distributing vaccine to pharmacies to provide another option for people at high risk for H1N1 infection who cannot get vaccinated by a health care provider. The majority of vaccine in King County is distributed to hospitals and other health care providers to vaccinate high risk patients.

The amount of H1N1 vaccine at pharmacies will be limited, with each pharmacy receiving a few hundred doses each. Vaccines will be re-supplied to pharmacies as more becomes available over the coming weeks.

Many pharmacies are unable to vaccinate babies and young children because their staff is not licensed and/or trained for these age groups. Public Health is making every effort to get vaccine to healthcare providers caring for babies and young children. Health care providers who have ordered the vaccine will continue to get supplies as vaccine becomes available, Please check with your health care provider. Please see the list of participating pharmacies to find out what age groups they can vaccinate.

What you need to know before you go to a pharmacy

• Who is eligible for H1N1 vaccine currently

To protect those who are at highest risk from severe illness from H1N1 influenza, H1N1 vaccine is currently available to people in the following groups:

• pregnant women;

• people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age;

• young people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old;

• people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for severe H1N1 because of chronic health conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or brain/nervous system disorders) or weakened immune systems and

• healthcare and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact.

When you go the pharmacy, a screening form will determine whether you fall into one of the above categories. You can download and fill it out now to take with you to the pharmacy.

When H1N1 vaccine supply is more plentiful, people who are not in the above groups will be able to get it.

• What kind of vaccine you can get

Pregnant women, babies and children younger than 2 years, and people through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions will get the flu shot (injectable vaccine). Flu shots must be reserved for people in these groups because they are not allowed to receive the nasal-spray vaccine and they are also among those at highest risk for severe illness and hospitalization.

Healthy people between the ages of 2-49 who are not pregnant can receive the nasal-spray vaccine, due to short supplies of injectable vaccine (flu shots). Once doses of injectable vaccine are more plentiful, people in this category will also be able to get them if requested. In the meantime, we ask for your patience and understanding.

• Number of doses

People 10 years and older will need one dose of the vaccine. Children under 10 will need two pediatric doses, spaced at least 28 days apart.

• Cost and health insurance

Pharmacies may charge a fee for administering the vaccine, typically between $12-$22, not to exceed $22. If you have health insurance, this fee will likely be covered. Please bring your health insurance information with you. You may need to submit a receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement.