Drive-up clinic inoculates most at risk

Luke Niebuhr, 2, son of Crystal Jenkin, listens to instructions from Jennifer Dunn, certified medical assistant with Everett Clinic, as Brayden McGee, 4, son of Shelly Rumple, awaits his turn for an H1N1 flu mist, called intranasal, vaccination Saturday. A mass agency drive-up clinic was set up at Heritage Park to inoculate pregnant women and children 6 months to 4 years old. Another driveup clinic is scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 31, for people 6 months to 24 years old and for priority groups, if the vaccination supply arrives. In the first hour and a half the mass agency driveup clinic at Heritage Park was opened Saturday, 350 doses of the H1N1 vaccine had been administered to a targeted group of children, 6 months to 4 years old, and pregnant women.

Nine clinics in Snohomish County inoculated 17, 000 people at most risk of experiencing complications or becoming a fatality of the H1N1 (swine) pandemic flu virus, said Yuan-Po Tu, M.D., medical director of walk-in clinics for Everett Clinic.

While a drive-up clinic at Heritage Park had been planned for months, said Tu, opening Saturday for the select group most susceptible to the disease came about after unexpected supplies were received.

“Vaccination is clearly the most effective way to protect someone from influenza,” said Tu. “Nobody has immunity to this.”

The H1N1 virus strain is a relative to the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide.

Of the hospitalizations, 53 percent have been people under 25 years old and 23 percent of those hospitalized, have died, said Tu.

“This is very different than the seasonal flu,” said Tu. “It’s spreading rapidly.”

Pregnant women are experiencing the most complications and face the highest mortality rate from the pandemic strain, he said.

Statistics show, out of 100 pregnant women who contract the illness, 28 will die.

“Pregnant women are downright scary,” said Tu. “They are truly at the greatest risk.”

There is no risk to the mother or baby by taking the vaccine.

“The risk is not getting vaccinated,” he said.

Signs of the virus are typical to the seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, sneezing, fatigue and muscle aches. The virus lasts only a few days if no complications develop. Some people have experienced diarrhea and vomiting.

There are 50 schools in Snohomish County with more than a 10 percent absentee rate due in part to the H1N1 flu virus, said Tu. The Stanwood-Camano School district confirms a lower absentee rate and no confirmed cases of students with H1N1 virus.

The Stanwood-Camano Fire Department, Snohomish Health District, Island County Health Department and the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management will again host a drive-through H1N1 vaccination clinic at Heritage Park, 9600 276th St. NW, in Stanwood, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.

Vaccinations will be offered at no cost to those most vulnerable to complications from H1N1 influenza, including pregnant women, young people ages six months to 24 years, caregivers of children younger than 6 months old, people ages 25 to 64 who have chronic medical conditions, health-care workers, emergency services personnel, school teachers and childcare professionals.

Additional vaccine is expected to arrive weekly in the following months, and will be offered to the general public through health-care providers and pharmacies. Residents with questions relating to H1N1 vaccination clinic sites, requirements and other H1N1 questions can call 425-388- 5088 Mon.- Fri., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.