November 13, 2009 - Public Health is responsible for the allocation of all H1N1 vaccine to the health care community in King County. Health care providers from across King County have been invited to order vaccine to provide to their patients and for staff who provide medical care. Over 400 health care institutions, practices and individual providers have requested vaccine so far.
With the latest deliveries this week, King County has received approximately 165,000 doses of vaccine to date. Approximately 90,000 more doses are in the process of being ordered and shipped to King County.
Currently, vaccine is exclusively for individuals in priority groups. As more vaccine comes into the county and to health care providers each week, people should contact their health care provider to find out when they expect to receive vaccine. Eventually, there will be enough vaccine for anyone who wants to receive a vaccination.
In addition to continuing to provide doses to health care providers that have ordered them, Public Health is distributing limited amounts of vaccine to pharmacies. We expect that this ongoing strategy will help ensure vaccine access to those individuals without a healthcare provider and also for those whose healthcare provider is not enrolled to receive H1N1 vaccine.
For information about vaccine availability and other general H1N1 questions, call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464), which is staffed with operators to answer questions from King County residents about H1N1 influenza, and nurses to provide medical care advice for people with the flu. Hours of operation with operators are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with special 24-hour nurse line service extended over this weekend. Recorded information will be available 24 hours a day.
H1N1 vaccine availability update:
Public Health - Seattle & King County Hotline