H1N1 vaccine could be available to everyone by next week

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Story Published: Dec 10, 2009 at 6:24 PM PDT

By Kristina Nelson, KCBY News

NORTH BEND, Ore. - Over the past few months, local health officials have been administering the H1N1 vaccine to people in priority groups.

Now Coos County Public Health is saying, folks not in those groups may be able to get the vaccine as soon as next week.

According to Public Health Administrator Frances Smith, the health department currently has 2,500 doses of the vaccine, with more shipments coming in weekly.

Many local people in priority groups, including young kids and pregnant women, have already received the vaccine, which means people outside priority groups could receive it soon.

"The State Public Health Division sets the priorities, with input from local health departments, and we are discussing opening that up next week. I suspect when we do open it up to everybody, we will have a rush right away, but we will continue to get more vaccine, 2 to 3 shipments every week," says Smith.

Earlier this week, Coos County saw it's first death from H1N1.

Smith says while this news is not cause for alarm, it is a reminder for folks to get out to local clinics to get their vaccination.

"We will continue to have appointments here at the health department, and we will continue to have the pubic clinics that we will schedule and what's important to note is that when the vaccine is provided at the public health clinics, it's free of charge."

There will be a clinic from 10 to 2 this Friday at the Owen Building in Coquille and Saturday from 11 to 3 at the Barn in Bandon.

They are open to priority groups only.

For more information log onto www.flu.oregon.gov.

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