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POSTED: Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

H1N1 vaccine clinics set for Ferndale and Lynden

Two more mass vaccination clinics for the H1N1 flu have been scheduled for Nov. 9 and 10 in Ferndale and Lynden respectively, and will be open to wider groups of people.

About 900 slots will be available for each of the clinics to people who have appointments.

Because more of the vaccine for what also is called swine flu is being shipped to Whatcom County, more people high on the list to be immunized will be eligible for the clinics, according to the Whatcom Pandemic Joint Information Center.

People must live, work or go to school in Whatcom County and be part of the following priority groups to qualify:

• Pregnant women.

• Health-care providers and emergency responders.

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

• Anyone who is 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.

As they have done in the past, public health officials are requiring people to book appointments. They can do so beginning Thursday, Nov. 5, in two ways:

• Go online to em.whatcomcounty.org to sign up starting at 10 a.m. The link to book vaccination appointments 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.

With so many people trying to get into the clinics, officials are asking people to be understanding if the link doesn't work immediately or if they're getting a busy signal.

"Just have patience. Just keep trying the phone line, just keep trying the link," said Joe Bates, spokesman for the Whatcom Pandemic Joint Information Center.

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.