H1N1 vaccine update

October 29, 2009

Lewis & Clark continues to work with Multnomah County Health Department to secure doses of H1N1 vaccine to be distributed through the Student Health Service. According to our local health officials, shipments to the state have been slow in coming. So far they have only received 6 percent of the order. For the vaccines it is receiving, the county is prioritizing pregnant women and children under 5 first. It may be mid to late November before the Health Service will receive any H1N1 vaccines. Keep in mind that information on vaccine availability changes almost daily. Stay informed through the Lewis & Clark H1N1 website and local media.

As soon as we have doses of the H1N1 vaccine, we will be notifying the L&C community via email and posting the information on the H1N1 website and the Source. Please check emails and the website regularly. There may be some off-campus providers who have H1N1 vaccine. For more information on where it might be available in Multnomah County, please visit their website or contact your health care provider. We encourage community members to call potential vaccination sites before going there, since suppliers may not have H1N1 vaccine, may run out of vaccine at any time, or may only be giving the vaccine to pregnant women and children under 5.

Melissa A Osmond, MPH, CHES
Associate Director for Health Promotion