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The “regular” flu shot is gaining popularity while many await availability of the H1N1 influenza vaccine.
October 26, 2009 —
Students and faculty received “regular” flu vaccinations on campus last week as the season rages on.
The H1N1 influenza pandemic prompted President Obama to declare a national emergency Saturday as the country fights to stay healthy.
The flu bug has hit Saginaw hard, already requiring some area school districts to cancel classes as significant portions of the students are out sick.
Widespread concerns over the H1N1 strain have many awaiting the availability of this additional vaccine.
According to the Saginaw County Department of Public Health H1N1 hotline, limited quantities of the vaccine have arrived in Saginaw County, but the public is not yet eligible for this inoculation.
BJ Helton, the infection prevention coordinator at Covenant Health Care, said she expects more vaccines to arrive by the end of this week.
Healthcare workers are receiving the first of the supply. Due to anticipated high demand for the forthcoming limited supply, the health department will focus initial vaccination efforts on “high risk” groups, including pregnant women, persons caring for infants less than 6 months of age, children ages 6 months to 4 years, and persons ages 5 to 18 who have medical conditions that put them at a greater risk for flu-related complications.
The health department has not yet compiled data on the number of flu cases its seen this season.
“But we can tell you that we’ve seen a significant amount of influenza,” Helton said.
While both “regular” and H1N1 cases have surfaced, “The most important thing is that they’re treated the same way,” Helton said.
Helton estimates that of everyone who experiences the flu this season, about 70 percent probably have had the H1N1 strain — and they’ve recovered, often at home without ever identifying the strain.
“The majority of people who get seasonal and H1N1 let it run its course,” Helton said.
Getting rest, taking symptom reducing medications and avoiding contact with others when possible gets most of the population back on its feet in roughly seven to 10 days.
Symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat and body aches constitute a normal reaction to influenza. Very few experience vomiting and diarrhea, Helton said.
It’s when symptoms such as a body temperature above 100 persist that persons should seek medical attention.
“We’re only going to treat you if the symptoms are severe,” Helton said. “If you get these symptoms, it’s normal and you just need to stay home and stay away from other people unless your symptoms don’t appear to be mild. A 103 temperature is not mild, especially for a kid.”
Treatment includes administering antiviral drugs or antibiotics.
Helton stresses that while nasal congestion is normal, medical help is necessary if at anytime during the illness there is a difficulty in breathing.
Getting vaccinated for both seasonal and H1N1 when possible is important, Helton said.
“Especially for the target areas. If we had known about this novel H1N1 sooner, it would have been in the seasonal vaccine.”
As of midweek last week, Helton said the flu has produced no fatalities in Saginaw this season.
Up-to-date information is available by calling the health department hotline at (989) 758-3828 or by going online to the Saginaw Public Health Web site.