Vaccine Availability Update

VACCINE AVAILABILITY


PLANNED FLU SHOT CLINIC FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14TH 2:30-8:00 IS AS OF THIS WRITING STILL ON BUT CHECK BACK TUESDAY PM FOR CONFIRMATION THAT WE WILL HAVE VACCINE AVAILABLE.

We ask that you spread the word to check back on this site prior to coming to that clinic. We will post a definite yes or no no later then 7PM Tuesday night. We have unfortunately gone without seasonal flu vaccine since the Oct. 3rd clinic. We have tried every route imaginable to get our shipment promised Oct.1 from our manufacturer, and we do have a promise for a shipment of 500 doses to be received Oct. 13th. That should be enough to get us through the Wednesday clinic depending on the response. Again we ask your patience as we do everything we can to assure that your children be protected properly.

Some good news as the CDC tracks worldwide the strains of seasonal flu that are active and most likely to cause disease in the US this winter, and the current seasonal vaccine being offered seems to be effective against the majority of the strains. One more reason to get the seasonal vaccine.

We have yet to hear anything definitive from the health department regarding our H1N1 vaccine. The day we receive the vaccine, we will post it here as well as instructions on how we will make it available as quickly as possible for the children. Remember, all children should be immunized with this strain. Only the very earliest cases that were confirmed with DNA testing at the state lab need not receive the vaccine. Even if your child tested positive with a rapid flu test, the vaccine should still be given. Irregardless of how sure you are that your child has had the H1N1 virus, you should have them vaccinated. There are a lot of respiratory viruses that circulate when school starts back up that have fever, chills, cough, and sore throat. We have frequently utilized the term influenza like illness for that very reason. Even if you have heard the words, "Your child has the flu", you should have them vaccinated.


DISEASE ACTIVITY

Unfortunately, that little downward trend in people reporting flu like illnesses to the CDC reversed itself this most recent reporting week and blew past the previous peak week. South Carolina rejoined the other 37 states reporting widespread disease. Thus the unpredictability of what this virus can do continues to manifest itself.

Hospitalization and deaths attributed to H1N1 continue to rise as the activity of the disease continues to increase. It appears proportional to the same rates that occur with seasonal flu. Again, the fear is not so much that the disease caused by H1N1 is anymore severe then the seasonal flu but more so it is with the sheer numbers of overall disease that can occur that would in turn escalate the numbers of children and young adults that suffer the more severe complications.

One thing that has been obvious to us in the office is the lack of spread within households. I think that just goes to show how effective the efforts at preaching prevention has gone. Parents are reporting great efforts to prevent spread and I think that pays off big time. Continue the effort, IT WORKS!