By Danielle Rush
Howard County residents should not be complacent about the potential severity of the H1N1 flu virus, according to local health officials.
Karen Long, immunization coordinator for the Howard County Health Department, which will hold its final vaccination clinic for targeted populations Sunday, said she’s heard from people that the disease is in decline or they’ve already had the flu and don’t feel they need the vaccination.
“The public does not grasp the potential of this novel virus and that now is the time to act.”
Meredith Huffman, associate health nurse at St. Joseph Hospital, said she believes people are complacent because many of the cases in Howard County have been mild and not required medical intervention.
“They don’t think it is the big medical emergency the media has portrayed,” Huffman said.
According to The Associated Press Monday, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said widespread infections were reported in 32 states as of Nov. 21, down from 43 states the week before. However, there were 27 new lab-confirmed swine flu deaths in children under 18. That’s the largest one-week increase since the new virus was identified in April.
The count represents cases reported in the week ending Nov. 21. About 200 pediatric U.S. swine flu deaths have been reported to CDC so far, and officials believe there are probably a few hundred more.
As associate health nurse, Huffman gives vaccinations to hospital employees. She said some have been reluctant to get the vaccination because of the belief the shot can make people sick.
She said while she usually has a few people report feeling unwell after receiving a seasonal flu shot, she’s had no such reports from the H1N1 shot, and about half the associates have received it.
Huffman said people also fear the vaccine is not safe because of reports it was rushed into production, but that is not true.
“People lose sight of the fact this vaccine is a typical flu shot with the H1N1 virus in it. It was just a matter of timing, or this might have been a component of the seasonal flu shot,” she said.
Long said the department has enough vaccine to immunize pregnant women, children and young adults six months to 24 years old, people who live with or provide care for children younger than six months, people 24-64 with chronic health problems, and health care and emergency care medical services personnel. Future clinics will be open to the general public.
Long said the clinic is from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Indiana University Kokomo, and wait times at previous clinics have averaged 15 to 20 minutes. The vaccination is free.
Long said the previous clinics at IU Kokomo and local high schools and middle schools have been successful, but “there are still many more individuals in the targeted group who still should be immunized.”
Long said the Centers for Disease Control and the Indiana Health Department recommend people receive the vaccine even if they have already had the flu.
“While the number of H1N1 cases in this second wave of illness are on the decline in Howard County and Indiana, people are still getting sick, being hospitalized and dying. We will see additional waves in the coming months.”
The CDC also recommends children younger than 10 receive a second dose of the vaccination four weeks after the first. Long said the second flu shot clinic will be in January, with a date to be announced later.
For more information call the Howard County Health Department at 765-456-2408 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at 765-454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.
