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The Benton Franklin Health District has begun distributing some H1N1 vaccine to Tri-City pharmacies.
But the vaccine still only is available to high risk and other people most likely to be ill from the H1N1 virus, contrary to a rumor that kept health district officials busy taking calls Tuesday.
The good news is that the latest wave of H1N1, or swine flu, in the Tri-City area seems to have passed its peak, said Dr. Larry Jecha, health officer for the Benton Franklin Health District.
Reports of possibly infected patients at hospitals and school absentee rates have declined from a week ago, he said.
That doesn't mean people should give up on getting vaccinated. They still will need to be protected against the next wave of the virus, he said.
The health district is anticipating another wave of H1N1 hitting the Tri-Cities, followed by the typical flu season which may include more H1N1 cases. In a typical year, school absentee rates from the flu usually are highest the third week of January.
The health district has received more than 10,000 doses of the vaccine, so far. But that's not a lot for the 250,000 people it serves.
Those being allowed to receive the vaccine now are pregnant women, parents and caregivers of babies younger than 6 months, health care workers, people from 6 months to 22 years old and some adults ages 22 to 50 with serious health conditions that put them at risk of flu-related complications, Jecha said.
The health district started its H1N1 vaccine distribution by disbursing it to health care providers, such as doctors, and clinics. But with some doctors choosing not to give the vaccine, some people at high risk were left without a way to get the vaccine, said Heather Hill, communicable disease supervisor for the district.
Pharmacies now are starting to receive limited amounts of the vaccine to improve access. However, they're under contract to provide the vaccine only to those who most need it.
During seasonal flu outbreaks 95 percent of deaths are usually among those older than 65. But for the swine flu 95 percent of the deaths are occurring in those younger than 65 and typically among those far younger than that, Jecha said.
Flu pandemics typically hit the young the hardest and that's been true so far with H1N1. One theory is that older people may have built up immunity from past exposure to similar viruses.
When enough vaccine may be available for everyone who wants it continues to be unknown. If the supply continues to increase at the present rate, it could be more widely available in mid-December, Jecha said. But he cautioned that national supply estimates so far have been wrong.
In the Tri-Cities area three people are believed to have died from causes linked to the H1N1 virus.
Sherry Zuhlke, 33, of Kennewick, had been in an induced coma for 14 days Tuesday at Kennewick General Hospital with complications her family believes are linked to swine flu.
However, her brother Jason Zuhlke, of Kennewick, said she has been improving and her lungs are absorbing more oxygen. She may be able to be brought out of the coma near the weekend, he said.
She does not have health insurance and donations to help pay for her medical expenses may be made in her name at any U.S. Bank branch.
With the vaccine not yet widely available, health officials continue to urge basic precautions such as frequent hand washing, covering coughs and staying home when ill.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., pushed in the Senate on Tuesday for paid sick leave to prevent the spread of H1N1, saying the Centers for Disease Control estimated that on average a worker who goes to work with H1N1 infects 10 percent of his or her coworkers.
Those who get the swine flu can expect to be ill for about a week and should stay home until they have no fever -- without medication to lower it -- for 24 hours.
* Annette Cary: 509-582-1533; acary@tricityherald.com.
