An H1N1 flu clinic tentatively planned for Nov. 17 has been canceled due to limited supplies of the H1N1 vaccine in San Benito County.
The San Benito County Public Health Department is offering the vaccine by appointment only, and has been divvying up some of the supply they received from the state to local primary care physicians who are awaiting their own allocations.
"The word that we are getting is really the production of the vaccine just across the board has been slower than anticipated," said Patricia Morales, a public information officer for the local health department. "We are reminding people to remain patient. We think in time anyone who wants it will be able to get it as the vaccine becomes more widely available."
There have been 4,820 hospitalizations, ICU cases or deaths from H1N1 from April 3 through Oct. 31 statewide, according to California Public Health Department statistics. San Benito County, based on numbers reported as of Sept. 26, has reported eight hospitalizations or ICU cases, but no deaths. The one county resident reported to have died from H1N1 was treated in another county.
The health department staff had originally anticipated offering the H1N1 vaccine for children 2 to 9, pregnant women and household contacts of children six months or younger at their annual seasonal flu clinic Nov. 4. But without a large number of doses, they opted only to offer the seasonal flu vaccine.
More than 3,000 residents were vaccinated against seasonal flu at the event, which serves as a mass vaccination drill for local health staff and emergency workers.
As for the H1N1 flu vaccine, San Benito County's public health department, as well as local doctors registered with the state, can request doses of the vaccine. As it becomes available, a percentage of each request is fulfilled in each county in California.
For the full story see the Pinnacle on Friday.
The symptoms for H1N1 and seasonal flu are the same. They include:
- fever (in some cases)
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- body aches
- headache
- chills
- fatigue
- sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
Tips to prevention the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu:
- Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends, unless you are having respiratory distress, high fever, or a condition that warrants calling your personal physician.
- Keep children home if they are ill. Track their symptoms and contact your pediatrician if you have concerns.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.
- Develop a contingency plan for childcare in the event of school and/or daycare closure.
Melissa Flores Melissa Flores is city editor for the Weekend Pinnacle.
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