Dec. 4--Vaccinations for H1N1 at the Meridian Street Walgreens on Friday, Dec. 4, are only for those in the high-priority groups and who are at least 9 years old. Walgreens will not give vaccinations to children younger than 9.
Vaccinations are first-come, first-served and begin at 11 a.m. People will be charged an $18 administrative fee.
In addition, the Whatcom County Health Department is taking appointments for its own public clinics from 4 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 in Ferndale, Dec. 9 in Lynden, Dec. 15 in Deming and Dec. 17 in Bellingham. Those clinics are also limited to the high-priority list but do not exclude small children.
The vaccine at the county clinics is free. But people with health insurance should bring their insurance cards because their providers may be billed a fee for the cost of administering the vaccine.
To make a county clinic appointment, go to the Whatcom Pandemic Joint Information Center's Web site at www.em.whatcomcounty.org. Because traffic to the site is expected to be heavy, people attempting to make appointments are advised to be patient.
These are the high-priority groups as set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: --Pregnant women.
--Health-care providers and emergency responders.
--Those who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old. Children this young cannot be vaccinated.
--Everyone who is 6 months to 24 years old. (Walgreens and some other pharmacies and medical providers have higher age restrictions.)
--People who are 25 to 64 years old with chronic medical conditions that place them at higher risk for complications from the flu. Those conditions include asthma, heart disease, immune disorders or neurological conditions.
Several other pharmacies that also will be giving vaccinations have age limits or other restrictions. Check the list of pharmacies and medical providers for restrictions and other vaccination information.
VACCINATING CHILDREN
On Thursday, Dec. 3, Whatcom County's health officials issued a statement urging parents to get their children immunized against H1N1 as soon as possible.
"It is much safer for a child to achieve immunity to H1N1 from vaccination than from catching the flu," county Health Officer Dr. Greg Stern said in the statement.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that fewer children ages 6 months through 24 months have been vaccinated than in other priority groups. Children in this age group have had particularly high rates of hospitalization from catching swine flu and some even die.
Children younger than 10 years old require two doses of the vaccine, separated by 21 days to four weeks. Those who already have received the first dose can get the second through the county clinics, public health officials said.
Reach ZOE FRALEY at zoe.fraley@bellinghamherald.com or call 756-2803.
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