H1N1 flu shot clinics in Windsor, Santa Rosa on Saturday

In Sonoma County, the number of hospital visits for influenza-like illness continues to rise, said Dr. Mark Netherda, the county's deputy public health officer.

Netherda said the number of people hospitalized for H1N1-related illnesses is now 123, up from 109 last week. He said 23 people with confirmed cases of H1N1 flu have been treated in the intensive care unit and there have been 10 deaths tied to the new virus.

“We're tracking hospital visits for influenza-like illness and those are continuing to increase,” Netherda said. “Those are still rising, which would indicate that it has not peaked.”

Meanwhile, county officials are gearing up to give H1N1 flu vaccinations Saturday at two Santa Rosa locations.

The clinics will provide vaccinations to those who qualify and who walk up and wait in line. There will be no drive-through inoculations, which were offered on Oct. 25 in Windsor and led to traffic gridlock.

On Thursday, the state delivered an “unexpected” shipment of 500 doses of vaccine to the county public health department. Netherda also said there were vaccine shipments that came into Sonoma County for hospitals and medical groups this week.

Netherda said that the county was also able to borrow 500 doses of preservative-free vaccine for “pregnant women who want that option.” He said the county will now have 5,000 doses of vaccine for its planned H1N1 clinics on Saturday.

The clinics and times are:

--Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Windsor High School, 8695 Windsor Road, Windsor

-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Lawrence Cook Middle School, 2480 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa.

“We're hoping for a robust clinic Saturday," Netherda said. “But we're still looking to vaccinate the five priority groups. We can't open it up yet.”

The shots are free and will be given to those who fall into the following groups:

-- Anyone who lives in a household or provides daily care to an infant less than 6 months old.

-- Children above 6 months, up to young adults age 24.

-- All pregnant women.

-- Adults ages 25 to 64 who have an underlying medical condition that puts them at risk from flu complications.

-- Health care workers and emergency medical personnel.