Washington County Postpones All School-Based H1N1 Clinics

For Immediate Release: Friday, November 13, 2009

All H1N1 School-Based Clinics Postponed

Washington County public health officials announced today that all school-based clinics for dispensing H1N1 flu vaccine in Washington County will be put on hold until the supply of vaccine from manufacturers increases.

Instead of continuing with school-based clinics, county officials say they would like to bolster the vaccine supply coming to health and medical providers in Washington County to better target those most vulnerable to serious health consequences from H1N1.

"We planned the school-based clinics in Washington County with our school and city partners and volunteers based on the best estimates about the supply of vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control," said Washington County Public Health Administrator Kathleen O'Leary. "Those plans are no longer viable with such a scarce supply of vaccine."

Weekly vaccine allocations to Washington County have been small compared to the estimated need and have declined from their peak of 15,800 doses in late October to only 11,000 doses expected to arrive this week. Vaccine delivery amounts vary from week to week due to a number of factors beyond the control of state and local governments. 

"We are hopeful that one day we will receive enough vaccine for all who would like it, but we need to channel what limited vaccine we have as best as we can to those most susceptible to serious health effects of H1N1 flu," explained O'Leary. "Members of priority groups should continue checking on the availability of H1N1 vaccine with their doctors, health care providers or with the Oregon flu hotline at 800-978-3040."

To date, Washington County has dispensed over 7,100 doses of H1N1 vaccine at nine public clinics in schools throughout Washington County. Public health officials have also distributed roughly 60,000 doses of vaccine to health care providers over the same timeframe.

Washington County estimates that 270,220 people, or just over half of the county's entire population, fall within a priority group. Given federal guidance that children under 10 years of age should receive two doses of H1N1 vaccine, the county estimates that about 345,000 doses are actually required.

Public health officials expect 67,300 doses will have been made available to the county by Nov. 13, or roughly 20 percent of the county's overall need.

Based on current disease trends for influenza and federal guidelines, public health officials in Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas counties have asked that health care providers emphasize the vaccination of the following groups: 

• Pregnant women,
• Children 6 to 59 months, 
• Health care workers, 
• Caregivers of infants under age 6 months, and 
• People 5 to 64 years with medical conditions increasing their risk for complications from influenza.

These groups represent the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations for H1N1 vaccination during periods of limited vaccine availability plus people over age 18 with high-risk conditions.

Until more vaccine becomes available, residents can reduce their chances of catching or transmitting the flu by frequently washing their hands, covering their cough and staying home when sick.

For more information, visit the State of Oregon's flu Web site www.flu.oregon.gov or the Washington County Web site at www.co.washington.or.us/flu or call the Oregon flu hotline at 1-800-978-3040.

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