Clallam County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) will offer free H1N1 vaccinations to celebrate National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). NIVW is January 10 -16, 2010. CCHHS H1N1 clinics will be held January 12, 13, 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at its office in the Clallam County Court House.

NIVW helps highlight the importance of influenza vaccination – both the seasonal type that occurs every year and the new pandemic H1N1 strain that began in the spring of 2009. So far, two distinct “waves” of pandemic H1N1 have occurred in the United States. A third wave of H1N1, occurring during the traditional mid-winter flu season (February-March) is likely.  NIVW gives people an opportunity to get the H1N1 vaccine at a time when demand for vaccine usually drops significantly. Though this has been an unprecedented year in terms of the number of people who have received seasonal influenza vaccinations, many people still have not gotten the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. H1N1 vaccine supplies are now plentiful and everyone 6 months of age and older is eligible for the vaccine. H1N1 vaccine is available at a variety of sites throughout the county – medical clinics, pharmacies, and CCHHS Health Department offices in Port Angeles and Forks.

CCHHS is able to offer H1N1 vaccine without charge since both the vaccine and administration costs are being funded by the federal government. Dr. Tom Locke, Clallam County Health Officer, strongly recommends that all County residents take advantage of this free vaccine to protect themselves from H1N1 influenza before the virus returns for its third wave later this winter.

In December CCHHS did vaccination clinics for all school districts in the county. Children under age 10 need a second vaccination to be fully covered. Clinics at CCHHS on January 12, 13, 19, and 20 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. will also serve children in need of their boosters. The Forks office will also provide boosters at its facility.

For further information about the clinics, please contact the Port Angeles office at 360-417-2274 or the Forks office at 360-374-3121.