KPLU Local News
(2009-10-01)
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SEATTLE, WA
(KPLU) -
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If you're worried about getting swine flu, it looks like the first shipments of a vaccine to prevent it will arrive next week.
Washington initially gets about 70,000 doses. In King County, Public Health director David Fleming says the first batch is mostly reserved for health-care workers, to keep them from getting sick as they treat others.
"We strongly recommend that all health care workers receive this vaccine," he says.
Some hospitals, such as MultiCare's and Virginia Mason's, are requiring all staff to get vaccinated, although one nurses' union is going to court to try to prevent any mandatory program. By the middle of the month, thousands more vaccine doses will arrive. Those will be reserved for a list of high-priority people, including anyone between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old. All told almost a million people in King County alone are on the high priority list. They'll be able to get vaccine through their doctors or at a local pharmacy. Each county has its own process. But, Public Health epidemiologist Jeff Duchin says, finally, by November, everyone else can get in line.
"It's important for people to understand that initially there's not enough for everyone," he says. But in the following weeks, there will be.
Interestingly, about half of the initial shipments of swine flu vaccine will be in the form of nasal mist -- not an injection. Currently, anyone who has the flu probably has swine flu, but the numbers are still pretty low. That means the vaccine just might arrive in time to reduce most of the fall outbreak.
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