D.C. will limit swine flu vaccine clinics

District health officials said Thursday that they are limiting their schedule of public swine flu vaccination clinics, which have covered more than 11,000 people so far, so they can dedicate more doses to doctor's offices and community health centers.

The officials also said pharmacies would not begin receiving the vaccine this week as they had expected. That date has been pushed back until after the week of Nov. 23.

In Loudoun County, health officials are opening a Saturday clinic at Smart's Mill Middle School in Leesburg, which will have 2,000 doses on hand. It will target pregnant women; children 4 to 18 with medical disorders that put them at higher risk for complications from the flu; and children 2 to 9 with no underlying medical conditions, according to Health Director David Goodfriend.

Public clinics will be held in the District as scheduled Thursday evening. Saturday's clinics will have an earlier closing time of 1 p.m., not 4 p.m. Tuesday's clinics at Coolidge High School and McKinley Technology High School have been canceled, as has the Nov. 14 clinic at Wilson High School. Other clinics next week will continue, although three vaccination clinics Nov. 14 will also close at 1 p.m.