LAKE COUNTY — Swine flu vaccines continue to trickle into Lake County health provider offices with an expected shipment onslaught of about 20,000 doses in January.
Lake County providers have received about one fourth of the immunizations for swine flu, or H1N1, that the County Health Services Department expects for the season, said Dr. Karen Tait, Lake County public health officer.
“I think we”re going to have a lot of vaccinations ? almost more than we can really talk people into taking,” Tait said.
The health department may set up swine flu shot clinics in late January or February if it gets the set shipments, Tait said.
The County Health Services Department, the Lakeport Safeway Pharmacy and North Lake Medical Pharmacy in Lakeport have swine flu shots available to the public. The Health Services Department request patients call them at 263-1090 to get an immunization. Residents should also call North Lake Medical Pharmacy at 263-1328 to schedule an appointment. Health care providers also continue to offer immunizations to their patients.
About 10 percent of Lake County residents have received swine flu shots, Tait said.
Due to production problems, there have been shortages of vaccine for children younger than 3 years old, a vulnerable group, Tait said. Parents can choose to have their young children vaccinated with a dose made for those older than 3, which was made possible by a state waiver to its law concerning vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal.
“It appears that the pediatric formulation of vaccine will remain in short supply this year,” Tait said.
Residents of all ages can now request a swine flu vaccination, Tait said.
“We want everyone to consider vaccination against H1N1 influenza anyway,” Tait said. “But by shifting to this broader vaccination approach now, we hope to reduce the amount of influenza in the community that may expose children who remain unvaccinated due to shortages of vaccine for their specific age group.”
Public Health continues to recommend residents seek swine flu vaccinations in the coming months, Tait said.
“Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza illness remains widespread in Lake County and throughout California,” Tait said. “Although the amount of illness may be starting to level off, influenza illness remains at higher than normal levels for this time of the year.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
