Jefferson and Clallam counties’ health officials are expecting enough vaccine to go around this flu season, which the officials see as a breath of healthy air after a three-year vaccine shortage.
Jefferson Healthcare hospital has already secured 5,500 doses of flu vaccine, said Paula Dowdle, the Port Townsend hospital’s chief financial officer.
Consequently, eight flu vaccine clinics have been scheduled in Jefferson for those considered by the state Department of Health to be in “high risk” categories.
The categories include people 65 or older, those in nursing homes, children with chronic health conditions and younger than 23 months, pregnant women, healthcare personnel who provide direct patient care, and caregivers of children younger than 6 months.
“That should be plenty,” Dowdle said Monday.
After Oct. 24, everyone should be able to get flu shots, the officials said.
“Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projections, widespread shortages are not anticipated,” said Jane Kurata, Jefferson County public health nurse.
Jefferson Healthcare hospital orders vaccine for the county, unlike in Clallam, where the county orders and distributes its own.
Clallam distribution
Clallam-Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke said Clallam County expects to receive adequate doses of flu vaccine, but he was not certain when it would be received.
“We are expecting to have an adequate supply, so that’s why we are planning to go forward with a widespread program in Clallam County,” said Locke.
However, he said, distribution has been slow in Clallam County.
“We have 2,000 doses ordered and received only about 150 so far, so that’s not enough to run a clinic,” the health officer said.
“Normally, we have all of it at this point and are setting up our clinics.”
Clallam’s doses were ordered from Sanofi Pasteur, formerly Aventis Pasteur, he said.
He added that Clallam should know in a week just how many doses it will receive and when it can schedule public clinics.
Locke said Olympic Medical Center is setting up its own program to vaccinate its employees and their families.