Snohomish Co grossly short on H1N1 vaccine
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. -- Public health officials say they don't have enough doses of the swine flu vaccine for even just the high-risk patients in the area.
With the first clinic for pregnant women and young children scheduled to be held Saturday, the county says it has less than half of the doses it needs.
"The demand on the health care system is escalating," said health director Dr. Gary Goldbaum.
Goldbaum says the county has just 17,000 swine flu vaccine doses to cover its 200,000 high priority people, including pregnant women and children.
More dosages are on the way, but they will not arrive on time, Goldbaum said.
"What we are absolutely confident (about is) we are going to run out and therefore, we have to reach those who are at the highest risk," he said.
The first round of doses went to medical professionals. This next round goes to pregnant women and young children between 6 months and 4 years old. Health officials hope to have everyone in the county vaccinated by January.
"Right now everyone is chomping at the bit. We are doing the best we can, the manufacturers are doing the best they can," said Dr. Yuan-Po Tu of the Everett Clinic.
Ninety eight percent of people seen for flu symptoms in Snohomish County have tested positive for H1N1. Providence Medical Center has 17 inpatients with flu like symptoms, and 8 of those patients are in critical care.
Now, the concern is getting enough vaccine out to everyone else to keep the spread of swine flu in check.
The swine flu vaccine clinic for pregnant women and small children will open at 9 a.m. Saturday at nine different local locations. For a complete list of all the vaccination locations, click here.
With the first clinic for pregnant women and young children scheduled to be held Saturday, the county says it has less than half of the doses it needs.
"The demand on the health care system is escalating," said health director Dr. Gary Goldbaum.
Goldbaum says the county has just 17,000 swine flu vaccine doses to cover its 200,000 high priority people, including pregnant women and children.
More dosages are on the way, but they will not arrive on time, Goldbaum said.
"What we are absolutely confident (about is) we are going to run out and therefore, we have to reach those who are at the highest risk," he said.
The first round of doses went to medical professionals. This next round goes to pregnant women and young children between 6 months and 4 years old. Health officials hope to have everyone in the county vaccinated by January.
"Right now everyone is chomping at the bit. We are doing the best we can, the manufacturers are doing the best they can," said Dr. Yuan-Po Tu of the Everett Clinic.
Ninety eight percent of people seen for flu symptoms in Snohomish County have tested positive for H1N1. Providence Medical Center has 17 inpatients with flu like symptoms, and 8 of those patients are in critical care.
Now, the concern is getting enough vaccine out to everyone else to keep the spread of swine flu in check.
The swine flu vaccine clinic for pregnant women and small children will open at 9 a.m. Saturday at nine different local locations. For a complete list of all the vaccination locations, click here.