The King County Public Health Department announced Thursday (Aug. 26) that it had closed Asian Bubble Tea, located 9835 16th Ave SW in White Center, for “improper preparation and service of foods under their current Risk 2 permit classification.”

According to the statement, “the Person in Charge of the establishment has not upgraded facility nor obtained a Risk 3 permit classification to accommodate new menu items including preparation of raw foods and cooking equipment. The food establishment will be reopened when the inspector confirms that all issues have been resolved.”

King County Health has varying “risk levels” for food vendors, and says “the more complex the menu and preparation of foods, the higher the risk level, which in turn relates to more frequent inspection of your establishment.”

It classifies “Risk 2″ as:

This risk level is assigned to a permit that allows food processing steps such as receiving, storing, preparing, cold holding, and serving potentially hazardous foods. It does not include hot holding of food. It includes limited preparation steps, such as baking bread, frying donuts, and grilling or toasting sandwiches for immediate service. Examples of this type of operation include on-site baking, making smoothies with raw ingredients (fruit, eggs, etc.), opening ready to eat prepackaged foods for heating or service, cooking waffle cones or cake mixes. Grocery stores with pre-packaged raw meat, poultry, or seafood are also included. These operations receive one routine inspection and one educational visit each year with the exception of schools which receive two routine inspections.

Here’s the full news release:

Asian Bubble Tea located at 9835 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106 was closed by a Public Health food inspector on August 26, 2010 at 1:15 pm for improper preparation and service of foods under their current Risk 2 permit classification.  The Person in Charge of the establishment has not upgraded facility nor obtained a Risk 3 permit classification to accommodate new menu items including preparation of raw foods and cooking equipment.  The food establishment will be reopened when the inspector confirms that all issues have been resolved.

Risk levels and permit classifications are explained at www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/foodsafety/FoodBusiness

The Food Establishment Closures homepage is online at www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/foodsafety/inspections/closures

If you haven’t yet been vaccinated against the H1N1 virus, you’ll have a chance to get one FREE this Thursday (Jan. 14th) between 1pm and 8pm at the Sea Mar Clinic right here in White Center.

Sea Mar is located at 9650 15th Ave. S.W. #100, and please note that shots will be given on a first come, first served basis, and no reservations will be taken.

If you can’t make it Thursday, you can also get a free vaccination at the South Park Sea Mar Clinic on Tuesday, Jan. 12th from 1pm to 8pm. That clinic is located at 8720 14th Ave South.

For more information, visit: www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1. The Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464) is staffed with operators to answer questions from King County residents about H1N1 influenza. The Flu Hotline is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with special 24-hour nurse line service extended over the weekend for people with flu seeking medical care advice. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

Here’s a press release from King County Public Health:

Over 600,000 people in King County have been vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza (“swine flu”), but many people in King County do not yet have immunity and remain at risk to a virus that continues to circulate in the community. With vaccine availability continuing to widen, now is a good time for anyone six months of age and older to take advantage of the vaccination opportunity.

H1N1 vaccine is available at many health care providers and local participating pharmacies. For people who can’t afford to pay, Public Health – Seattle & King County is announcing new community H1N1 vaccination clinics during January. More information is available at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1.

“H1N1 influenza has caused severe illness particularly among children, as well as pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions and weakened immune systems,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “We’re still seeing H1N1 influenza illness in our community, and we can prevent new waves of infection in coming months by vaccinating more people now. The current vaccine has been found to be very effective in protecting against the H1N1 virus.”

The overall death rate due to H1N1 has been lower than expected, but the death rate among children has been 5 to 10 times higher than seasonal influenza. For children under ten years old who have received one dose of vaccine, now is a good time to get a second dose of vaccine if 28 days or more have passed since the first dose.

As of this week, approximately 757,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine have been received in King County, and approximately 643,000 people have been vaccinated.

Public Health, Healthpoint and Sea Mar have vaccination clinics scheduled during the month of January for those who cannot afford to pay. Given the importance of continued influenza immunization, January 10-16, 2010 is National Influenza Vaccination Week.

New clinics and vaccine availability:

• Sea Mar – White Center (9650 15th Ave. S.W. #100) Thursday, January 14; 1 pm – 8 pm
• Sea Mar – South Park (8720 14th Ave S) Tuesday, January 12th ; 1 pm – 8 pm
• Renton Public Health Center (3001 NE 4th St) Saturdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30; 10 am – 4 pm; Wednesdays, January 13, 20 , 27; 4 pm – 8 pm
• North Public Health Center (10501 Meridian Ave N) Saturdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30; 10 am – 4 pm; Wednesdays, January 13, 20 , 27; 4 pm – 8 pm
• Columbia Public Health Center (4400 37th Ave S) Saturdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30; 10 am – 4 pm; Wednesdays, January 13, 20 , 27; 4 pm – 8 pm

King County Public Health announced Friday (Oct. 23rd) that they have suspended operations of the four clinics that were serving H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccinations, including the White Center Public Health Center (see our previous report here).

So if you weren’t one of the lucky ones to get poked, you’ll have to wait until more vaccine gets to the area, and authorities are hoping for another 90,000 doses by Friday, Oct. 30th.

According to a press release:

As a result of high demand at these four sites, all the vaccine initially set aside for this purpose has been used and no additional vaccine has become available because of the national delay in vaccine production. Vaccine continues to be available through some health care providers in King County, but remains in very short supply.

Over the three days of the vaccination clinic this week, an estimated 3000 people without health insurance and with significant health problems received H1N1 vaccine at the Public Health clinics. While all health care providers are facing shortages, many of those most in need of vaccine will have the opportunity to receive vaccine in the coming weeks, as the expected delivery of additional orders will bring the total amount received in King County to 90,000 doses by next Friday, October 30.

“We wish we had more vaccine available now, but are hostage to current unpredictable delays in national vaccine production. With limited supplies, it’s all the more important to make sure that we use every dose as soon as we can,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “We’re glad we were rapidly able to use the doses we had to protect many people at highest risk.”

Public Health is responsible for the allocation of all H1N1 vaccine to the health care community in King County. Because there is less vaccine than is needed, supplies are distributed proportionally and in rotation based on the date of provider order. By the end of next week, most King County health care providers are expected to receive the first portion of their requested amount to vaccinate their highest-risk patients. Public Health plans to resume H1N1 vaccination clinics when the next allocation for its clinic order comes due.

As more vaccine comes into the county and to health care providers each week, people should contact their health care provider to find out when they expect to receive vaccine. Health care providers who have not ordered vaccine may still do so from Public Health.

Visit the Public Health H1N1 influenza website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 for updates on vaccine availability in the community or call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464), which will be staffed with operators to answer questions for King County residents about H1N1 influenza. Hours of operation with operators will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; recorded information will be available 24 hours a day.

King County’s Public Health Department announced Tuesday (Oct. 20th) that, beginning this Wednesday (Oct. 21st), the H1N1 flu vaccine will be available for those without health insurance at four clinics, including the White Center Public Health Center, located at 10821 8th Ave. SW.

Clinics will be open from 8:30am to 5:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays, and 8:30am – 7:00pm on Thursdays.

All clinics are walk-up and appointments will not be needed or scheduled.

For more information, visit the Public Health H1N1 influenza website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 for clinic directions.

Vaccinations at these clinics will continue over time, pending vaccine availability from the federal government.

According to a press release:

As private providers begin to receive H1N1 influenza vaccine for their patients at highest risk for complications, starting Wednesday, Oct. 21, Public Health – Seattle & King County is making vaccinations available for people without health insurance who are at increased risk because they have significant health problems.

Four Public Health vaccination clinics will be open to people up through 64 years of age who have significant health problems that put them at greater risk for serious complications for H1N1. Examples would include heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.

Most children and pregnant women have public or private health care coverage, so it is anticipated that the clinics will primarily serve uninsured adults. People over age 65 are at relatively low risk for H1N1 influenza and so should not seek vaccination at this time.

For people who have health insurance, local health care providers are receiving initial, small shipments of vaccine for their existing patients who need protection most. Vaccine availability from health care providers is expected to improve gradually as additional supplies arrive in upcoming weeks.

Public Health clinic details

Four Public Health H1N1 vaccination clinics will be operated at the following locations:

• White Center Public Health Center (10821 8th Ave. S.W., Seattle)
• Alder Square Public Health Center (1404 Central Ave. S., Suites 101 & 112, Kent)
• North Public Health Center (10501 Meridian Ave. N., Seattle)
• Federal Way Public Health Center (33431 13th Place S., Federal Way)

All clinics will be open 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays and 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. All clinics are walk-up and appointments will not be needed or scheduled. Visit the Public Health H1N1 influenza website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 for clinic directions.

Vaccinations at these clinics will continue over time, pending vaccine availability from the federal government.

Clinic locations may also expand with demand. As supply increases, more vaccine will be available in Public Health clinics and other community locations. The Public Health website will be updated regularly with information on vaccine availability.

Last Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that vaccine production is proceeding slower than originally expected, which will result in smaller amounts of vaccine in ongoing deliveries over the next two months.

Call center activation

Beginning Wednesday morning, Oct. 21, the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464) will be staffed with operators to answer questions about H1N1 influenza and provide information about Public Health – Seattle & King County vaccine clinic locations for people without insurance and with significant health problems. Hours of operation with operators will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; recorded information will be available 24 hours a day.

On Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 3rd), King County’s Public Health Department closed Taqueria El Rincon, located at 11066 16th Ave SW (we think this is the taco truck across from McMurphy’s, where we’ve eaten before – street view below),  for the violation of “Wastewater draining to the ground.”

According to the King County website:

Public Health – Seattle & King County helps the food establishment keep the risk of food borne illness low through education and inspections. There are 2 basic causes of food borne illness we want to protect against with safe food handling practices.

1. Contamination of food by food workers’ hands, other foods, or food preparation surfaces. This is why hand washing, no bare hand contact with ready to eat foods and the washing, rinsing and sanitizing of food preparation surfaces is vitally important.
2. Temperature control: Foods that provide a good environment for the growth of the bacteria that cause food borne illness are called potentially hazardous foods. The bacteria grow quickly in “the danger zone,” 41°F to 140°F of these foods. Therefore, these foods must be cooked to temperatures that will kill the bacteria, then kept hot (over 140°) until served, or kept cold (under 41°) until served.

There are some safe food handling practices that, if not done properly, are more likely to lead to food borne illnesses. The inspector specifically observes and documents these food handling practices during the inspection. If any of these most risky practices are not done properly, the establishment is given a red critical violation on the inspection, the risk is taken care of immediately, and the manager is taught the correct procedure or method. Based on the risk caused by the violation, a return inspection and education will be done. Finally, if a food establishment hasn’t improved its practices after additional education and direction, the establishment will be closed.

Reasons for immediate closure of a food service establishment:

• High score on the routine inspection*
• Sewage backing up in kitchen &/or bathroom
• No hot water/running water
• Electricity goes out
• Other imminent health hazards: broken refrigeration, damage caused by accidents or natural disasters, or when establishment is linked to a food borne illness outbreak
• Other: No permit to be operating (The permit assures that they have met all of the structural & equipment requirements for the menu items they are going to serve); the owner/manager interferes with the inspector’s ability to do her/his duties.

*The inspection is based on a 400 point system. The violations are added up between red and blue violations. If the total red critical violations is 90 or more, or the total of red and blue is 120 or more, then the establishment will be closed.

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