PORT ANGELES — Beginning Monday, anyone on the North Olympic Peninsula who wants the swine flu vaccine can get it.
The H1N1 influenza vaccine, which has been restricted to high-risk groups since it arrived in October, will be offered at pharmacies in Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Sequim and Forks.
“We’re synchronizing this so we’re all doing it the same in Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties,” said Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties.
“We’re all in the same emergency planning region.”
The pharmacies where the vaccine will be offered to the general population will be revealed today. Specific locations had not been finalized on Thursday.
Considered mild by pandemic standards, H1N1 is similar to the seasonal flu. Most healthy people recover on their own in a matter of days.
Health officials confirmed one fatality of complications of swine flu on the Peninsula.
A Clallam County man in his mid-50s who had multiple risk factors died of H1N1-related complications in Port Angeles on Nov. 5.
Manufacturing delays kept early doses of the vaccine in short supply. Health care workers and pregnant women moved to the top of a priority list that included children, young adults and anyone with a chronic medical condition.
“Those restrictions will all be removed,” Locke said.
Supplies are catching up with demand, and more vaccine is on its way.
Heath officials are encouraging healthy adults and seniors to get the vaccine before a “third wave” of the mild pandemic flu hits the region early next year.
“We’re going to be very actively encouraging people to get it,” Locke said.
“We appreciate that people have been patiently waiting. One of our concerns is that people may have lost interest. Not only is H1N1 still a threat, we’re anticipating a third wave of this. It’s going to come back in a couple of months.”
School vaccination clinics are ongoing. The last one on the Peninsula is Dec. 18 in Forks.
State Health Department spokesman Donn Moyer said every health district is considering lifting restrictions, The Associated Press reported.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
