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POSTED: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009

More mass flu clinics available in Whatcom County

Two more mass clinics for the swine flu vaccine have been organized for Whatcom County residents, but the free vaccine still will be given only to priority groups.

Health officials said earlier this month that the first clinic would be at St. Luke's Community Health Education Center in Bellingham on Thursday, Oct. 22. It will be followed by a clinic Deming the week after. Another clinic in Bellingham also has been scheduled for the first part of November.

Health officials expect to be able to vaccinate 1,000 people at each of the clinics. The vaccine is free, but those with insurance cards should bring them as an administrative fee will be billed to their insurance providers.

Those without health insurance will not have to pay a fee of any kind.

The vaccine will be available in nasal spray and as a shot. Limited amounts of thimerosal-free vaccine for pregnant women and young children should be available as well.

Upcoming clinic schedules are:

• Thursday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at St. Luke's Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway in Bellingham.

• Thursday, Oct. 29, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Mt. Baker High School, 4936 Deming Road in Deming.

• Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave.

The vaccines will be given to priority groups that include health care providers who work directly with patients; emergency responders; pregnant women; those who care for or live with children younger than 6 months; people who are 6 months to 24 years old; and those 25 to 64 years old with medical conditions that place them at high risk for complications from swine flu.

More clinics will be scheduled as the vaccine becomes available.

Do not call the above schools for clinic information. Details are available online at the Whatcom County Health Department's Web site at whatcomcounty.us/health/h1n1 or by calling the Pandemic Influenza Call Center at 778-8170.

Those going to a clinic should first check the Whatcom Pandemic Joint Information Center Web site at em.whatcomcounty.org to make sure it hasn't been canceled because the vaccine shipment was delayed.