King County Public Health is opening up four free H1N1 vaccine clinics beginning Saturday, Dec. 5, and again on Wednesday, Dec. 9 to provide access to people at highest risk for H1N1 influenza who cannot afford to pay.

Future clinic dates will be scheduled as more vaccine becomes available.

More H1N1 influenza vaccine continues to arrive every week, and most vaccine is still going to local health care providers for at risk patients. Local pharmacies are also receiving limited ongoing allocations.

“As more vaccine comes into the community, we’re continuing to allocate limited amounts to people without insurance or who can’t afford to pay,” Dr. David Fleming said, director for Public Health. “We encourage people to seek H1N1 vaccine through their health care providers or through pharmacies if they can afford the administrative cost or if insurance covers it.”

An estimated 280,000 people in King County who are at high-risk for complications have already been vaccinated for H1N1 influenza and an additional 90,000 doses of vaccine is on the ground or in the process of being shipped to vaccine providers in the county. Though flu illness seems to have peaked locally, at least temporarily, H1N1 illness continues in the community, and vaccination is the best wait to protect against H1N1 influenza.

The public vaccination clinics will be held at four sites from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 and from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9.

• Columbia Public Health Center (4400 37th Ave S., Seattle)

• Renton Public Health Center (3001 NE 4th St., Renton)

• Public Health Center (10501 Meridian Ave N., Seattle)

• Federal Way Public Health Center (33431 13th Place S., Federal Way)

On Dec. 5 there will be a total of 4,000 doses of vaccine available across the four sites, and on December 9, there will be 1,000 doses of vaccine. Vaccinations are first come, first served, and no reservations will be taken. If demand is high, people will be given a time later that day to return for a guaranteed vaccination. Once supply is exhausted, people will be told as soon as they arrive.

The ability to pay will be determined on the honor system, and it will be assumed that people getting vaccinated at one of the four clinics cannot afford the administrative cost of H1N1 vaccination.