By Ruth Hill For Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County’s public health department has run out of injectable flu vaccine for adults and Jefferson County has a limited amount, but there is plenty of vaccine available in another form or at pharmacies or clinics, say representatives.
And flu shots are available at the public health departments in both counties for children.
Flu season has not hit Clallam or Jefferson counties yet, so public health officials say it’s a good time for people to be vaccinated.
Clallam County has run out of this year’s injectable vaccine for adults, and does not plan to order more, while Jefferson County has a few doses left.
However, both provide a nasal spray, called a flu mist, while referring adults who want injectable vaccines to retail pharmacies or clinics.
Clallam County typically offers the injectable vaccines throughout the season, but has chosen not to order more, said Christina Hurst, spokeswoman for the Clallam County Health and Human Services.
She said the injectable vaccine is less expensive at local pharmacies, so there is no reason for the Health Department to offer it.
The vaccine protects against three strains of flu that the were determined to be the most likely to causes illness this year, said Carol Burwell, public health nurse for the Jefferson County Public Health Department.
She said the health department generally does not offer the flu shots to adults because the shots are readily available throughout local pharmacies and clinics.
Both Jefferson and Clallam counties health departments offer the nasal spray, or flu mist, vaccines at their regularly scheduled clinics.
The flu mist is more expensive than the shot, but some people prefer it to an injection, Burwell said.
The mist is produced from a live virus, while the shots contain the killed virus. Either is considered to be effective.
Children’s flu shots
Both counties offer children’s flu shots as part of a children’s health program administered by the state Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control.
This year, the flu vaccine is recommended for all children from 6 months to 18 years old, a change from previous years in which only children under 5 years old were targeted.
The change reflects the CDC’s goal of encouraging vaccines for all school-age children.
According to Jane Kurata, public health nurse for Jefferson County, children’s vaccine shortages are not a problem this year.
The Clallam County public health immunization schedule is as follows:
• In Port Angeles, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and 1 to 6 p.m. the second Wednesday each month at Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., 360-417-2274.
• In Forks, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month, Forks Health Department, 140 C St., 360-374-3121.
For other providers, phone the public health clinics.
In Jefferson County, walk-in clinics for children’s immunizations are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
For other providers for children and adults in Jefferson County, phone 360-385-9400 or check www.jeffersoncounty publichealth.org.
