News - Local News

POSTED: Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Another H1N1 vaccine clinic added in south Bellingham

A mass vaccination clinic for the H1N1 flu, or swine flu, has been set for Saturday, Nov. 14, in south Bellingham.

Those attending must live, work or go to school in Whatcom County. They must be part of the following priority groups to qualify for the Nov. 14 clinic as well as one set for Monday, Nov. 9, and Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Ferndale and Lynden respectively:

• Pregnant women.

• Health-care providers and emergency responders.

• Those who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old.

• Those 6 months to 24 years old.

• People who are 25 to 64 years old with medical conditions that place them at high -risk for complications from the flu. Those conditions include asthma, heart disease, immune disorders or neurological conditions.

Public health officials are requiring people to book appointments for the clinics. They can do so beginning Thursday, Nov. 5, in two ways:

• Go online to em.whatcomcounty.org and click on the link for vaccination appointments. Sign-ups begin at 10 a.m. The link will be removed when slots have been filled.

• Call the H1N1 Vaccination Call Center at 778-8170. Phone lines will be open from 1 to 4:30 p.m., or until appointments have been filled.

Clinic locations will be given to people with appointments. Nasal mist and shots will be available.

The vaccine is free. However, those with health insurance should bring their insurance cards because their providers may be billed an administrative fee.

Additional clinics will be posted on the Whatcom Pandemic Joint Information Center site at em.whatcomcounty.org, when more of the vaccine is shipped to Whatcom County.

Learn more about H1N1 by going to the Whatcom County Health Department online at whatcomcounty.us/health/h1n1.