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Doses available for those most at risk, state says
By Cheryl Powell
Beacon Journal medical writer
Published on Friday, Nov 20, 2009
The Greater Akron region has received enough H1N1 influenza vaccines to cover all residents at the highest risk of developing serious complications from the flu.
So far, 73,350 vaccines have been shipped to health departments and other medical providers in Summit County, according to an analysis released Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health.
The county has an estimated 71,018 residents who fall into the priority group because of their age or health.
The group at highest risk includes pregnant women, health-care workers, children 6 months through 4 years, people who live with or care for babies younger than 6 months, and all children with chronic illnesses.
''Already, we have received enough vaccine to address that priority group in Ohio,'' said Dr. Alvin D. Jackson, director of the Ohio Department of Health.
Jackson spoke to Ohio media Thursday during a conference call with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC.
Brown is a co-sponsor of legislation pending before the U.S. Senate that would guarantee sick days for people infected with H1N1.
''Fewer and fewer Americans have sick leave, particularly low-income workers who can least afford to take off without pay,'' he said.
At this time, the vaccines are limited to those high-risk individuals, as well as healthy children and young adults and people 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions.
Together, those people make up the first tier designated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to vaccinate.
About 1.6 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been distributed to health departments and health-care providers statewide, according to the state health department.
Once people in the initial priority groups have had a chance to get vaccinated, the vaccines will be made available to the general public, Frieden said. However, he didn't have an estimate on when the vaccines will become more widely available.
The designated groups represent about half the U.S. population, he said.
In Ohio, the combined priority groups account for about 5.5 million of the state's 11.4 million residents, according to the state.
''For people who are elderly, H1N1 has been much less an issue, so the importance of vaccination would be much less,'' he said.
The nation is seeing a decrease in the number of cases of H1N1, also known as swine flu, Frieden said.
''However, it's still at a far higher rate now throughout the U.S. than it is in the peak of most flu seasons,'' he said.
It's common to see ''ebbs and flows'' in cases during a pandemic outbreak, with cases decreasing and then rising, Jackson said.
As of Tuesday, 2,547 had been hospitalized statewide for flu-related complications and 30 have died, according to the state health department.
In addition to the H1N1 vaccines, public health officials anticipate more seasonal vaccines becoming available in the coming weeks.
The seasonal flu shots were distributed early this year, but now some regions are experiencing shortages, Frieden said.
The Akron Health Department Thursday announced two H1N1 flu vaccine clinics at Robinson school, 1156 Fourth Ave.
Free vaccines will be available from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4 and from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 5.
For information about other upcoming H1N1 flu vaccine clinics as well as seasonal flu vaccine availability in Summit County, visit http://www.summitflu.org.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or chpowell@thebeaconjournal.com.
The Greater Akron region has received enough H1N1 influenza vaccines to cover all residents at the highest risk of developing serious complications from the flu.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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akron, oh
Posted 08:14 AM, 11/20/2009
Why did the boxes of vaccines say "Snake Oil" on the side?
uniontown, oh
Posted 10:07 AM, 11/20/2009
Ok men lets get these life boats over to the Titanic. Oh, it already left. Ok, we will load them on board when they get back. What ever you say Captain Obama.
Richfield, OH
Posted 10:33 AM, 11/20/2009
Obama wanted to get the vaccine to the terrorists at GITMO first.
