H1N1 vaccine to arrive in King County next week

An initial shipment of 20,000 doses of swine-flu vaccine will arrive in King County next week and health-care workers are first in line to get them.

As more shipments come in, public health officials say they will rely on providers to deliver the vaccines to priority groups, those most at risk and the general population.

"The first place people should be thinking about getting the vaccine is through their doctors," said Dr. David Flemming, director and health officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County.

Similar to their handling of seasonal flu, pharmacies and commercial vendors will provide the swine-flu, or H1N1, vaccines. In addition, county health authorities will provide vaccinations at public-health clinics and community sites for people without a regular doctor.

The vaccinations themselves are free, though some providers might charge a service fee. Premera Blue Cross, one of the state's largest insurers, said it will waive co-payments for the vaccinations.

The first shipment arriving next week will be in the form of a nasal spray, recommended only for those who are healthy, not pregnant and between the ages of 2 and 49.

Health officials expect to receive a larger shipment of about 200,000 to 250,000 doses, including both mist and injectable forms, in mid-October, and an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 doses each week thereafter. How much the county gets of the nationwide supply of 250 million doses still depends on the level of demand.

Flemming said about 1 million people in the county are within the priority groups, which include health-care workers; pregnant women; adults who are around children 6 months old and younger; people between ages 6 months and 24 years; and people between 25 and 64 with underlying health conditions.

Health officials are not anticipating shortages because the federal government ordered supplies when it was initially thought that an individual would need two shots to be immune. Officials now say only one dose is necessary, except for children under 10.

Additionally, many people choose not to be vaccinated. For seasonal flu, the vaccination rate in the state is at 25 percent for young children and 44 percent for physicians and health workers. The highest immunization rates are among adults 65 and older — a group that is not on the priority list for receiving the vaccine.

Providers are gearing up as they wait for the vaccine to arrive. Dr. James Park, a doctor with Valley Medical Center's Newcastle Primary Care, said the organization will be updated when the vaccine becomes available, through its Web site, a flu hotline and mailers.

Vaccinations for the seasonal flu and the swine flu can be administered on the same day.

Marnette Federis: 206-464-2521 or mfederis@seattletimes.com