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H1N1 deaths increase, vaccines become available
By: Melissa Kaelin
Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009 10:12 pm
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H1N1 deaths increase, vaccines become available

A nurse fills a syringe with the H1N1 vaccines on Oct. 26. The Minnesota Department of Health advised local public health offices to begin administering H1N1 vaccines to a wider population on Tuesday.
By MELISSA KAELIN

mkaelin@owatonna.com



OWATONNA — The death toll from confirmed H1N1 flu cases in Minnesota has climbed to 32, with public health officials reporting six new cases on Tuesday. 

The Minnesota Department of Health said the six deaths have occurred since Nov. 18. An additional death due to an influenza-type illness was not included in the count, as it was not confirmed as H1N1.

Statewide, hospitalizations due to H1N1 have also increased. As of Nov. 21, 1,767 total hospitalizations were reported, which is up 70 over the previous week.

As influenza cases are on the increase, however, so is the availability of the H1N1 vaccine. So far, public health officials report that they have ordered nearly 1 million doses of the vaccine, which have been used to treat groups who are at the highest risk for complications from H1N1. These groups — which include children under age 5, older children with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and direct care health workers — are estimated to include about 718,000 Minnesota residents.

But state health officials announced on Tuesday that they would be offering H1N1 vaccines to a wider group of individuals, and encouraging local public health agencies to begin offering the vaccine to the full list of priority groups identified by the Centers for Disease Control.

In Steele County, that is exactly what public health workers are preparing to do.

“We are getting more shipments in,” said Jane Nyquist, educator for Steele County Public Health. Nyquist said with the doses that are arriving at the public health office, the county will be able to offer three clinics in the first three weeks of December. “Next week, the first one is on Dec. 3. No appointment needed, just walk right in.”

Though timing may be a little bit difficult for some people, with this round of clinics has falling  in the midst of the holiday season, Nyquist said more people should be able to get the vaccine.



Individuals who are eligible for this round of vaccines include those age 6 months through 24 years, those age 25 through 64 years who have a chronic medical condition that puts them at a higher risk for complications, pregnant women, health care providers and emergency services personnel, and those living with or caring for children under 6 months of age.  

“That’s a much larger group than we have been working with,” said Nyquist.

Steele County Public Health will hold the clinics from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, Thursday, Dec. 10, and Thursday, Dec. 17. There will be no charge for the vaccination, which will be administered at the Steele County office, located at 625 Florence Ave. in Owatonna.

Public health officials encourage the underinsured or uninsured to attend the clinics.



Melissa Kaelin can be reached at 444-2372.
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Member Opinions:
By: stormchaser28 on 11/28/09
Still not getting the shot. When you look at the big scope of things not many people have died and this vaccine is still full of things I'm not comfortable with injecting in to my body or my son's.

Check out this link.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/28/Shocking-Swine-Flu-Vaccine-Miscarriage-Stories.aspx

By: secretsquirrel on 11/28/09
No need for me to check out the link storm, I decided years ago I am not bothering with it. Had it two years and those were the only two years I ever caught the flu.
Besides, the family will live like royalty if I am gone. Oddly, better financially dead than alive. LOL

By: bephishirhadash on 11/29/09
There are some good suggestions to help avoid getting influenza at the following website. You need to scroll down toward the bottom of the webpage.
http://web.mac.com/rblaylock/Russell_Blaylock_M.D./Swine_Flu_Data.html
or http://tinyurl.com/y9zbgoh

 
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