Anchorage Daily News

With swine flu vaccine in short supply, the city on Friday postponed a mass vaccination clinic that had been planned for the general public on Nov. 7 at UAA.

The city has still scheduled open-to-all clinics Nov. 14 and 21 at the University of Alaska Anchorage and on the first three Saturdays of December. They too are contingent on arrival of enough vaccine.

The Anchorage School District says it will start vaccinating students in elementary schools on Monday as planned, but it also is getting off to a less ambitious start than intended.

The district wanted to vaccinate children in elementary schools, middle schools and high schools during November. Instead, because it can't get enough vaccine, it will limit vaccinations to elementary school students for the first round and catch the older students in December.

The district expects to administer 4,000 doses to students in the next week, including both nasal spray and shots.

Parents must fill out permission slips before their children get vaccines. As of Friday, parents had returned 50 percent to 60 percent of the slips, said district spokeswoman Heidi Embley.

The city and state are still asking that only those who are in one of five priority groups -- those most at risk -- get the vaccine, until the supply increases.

The priority groups are children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years; pregnant women; people in households with children under 6 months of age; people aged 24 to 64 who have chronic health conditions; and health care and emergency service personnel.

Vaccine is currently available to people in the priority groups through some pharmacies and some private health care providers in Anchorage, such as obstetricians and pediatricians.

The Anchorage pharmacies that received swine flu vaccine are Fred Meyer, Carrs, Walgreens and Geneva Woods Pharmacy.

People can also obtain the vaccine from the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, 1217 E. 10th Ave. The center is giving vaccinations on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.

Find Rosemary Shinohara online at adn.com/contact/rshinohara or call her at 257-4340.

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