While Jefferson County public health officials have launched clinics to provide flu vaccines, their counterparts in Clallam County still await the 2,500 doses on order.
Dr. Tom Locke, Public Health officer for both counties, said that although Jefferson County clinics are already scheduled, Clallam County Health and Human Services is still about a week away from receiving its flu vaccine.
Nationally, 100 million doses are expected, said Locke.
“All accounts are that there will be a record supply.
“They’re looking at 100 million doses.
“But some of the production is slow.”
The three major producers of flu vaccine make it at the last minute. They are required to grow three viruses to produce the vaccine.
“If virus doesn’t grow fast enough, they have to wait,” he said.
Nonetheless, Locke said Clallam County public health officials are ready to launch clinics once the needed vaccine comes through from Glaxo Smith Kline and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
“As soon as we get our first shipment, we’ll start up the clinics in Clallam County,” said Locke.
