Alan Mauldin
MOULTRIE — While swine flu cases have declined recently, health officials are concerned that the holiday season -- and associated travel -- could expose many people to the virus.
Area health departments received additional vaccine last week, which will allow them to administer booster doses to children ages 2 through 9 as well as continue vaccinating other high-priority categories.
The Southwest Public Health District announced that it received about 1,700 additional doses of the H1N1 nasal spray on Nov. 19 and began distributing the vaccine the next day.
“The approximately 1,730 children aged 2 through 9 in our 14-county health district who have gotten their first dose of vaccine will need another dose 28 days later to be fully protected against the pandemic H1N1 flu, said Dr. Jacqueline Grant, public health district director. “Because the vaccine is in short supply, some parents have been anxious.”
Children who received their first vaccine as an injection can receive booster doses in the spray form.
“Since we don’t know when we will get another shipment of H1N1 flu shots, parents may want to go ahead and get their children fully protected before the holidays,” Grant said.
The nasal spray is made from a weakened live flu virus and can be given to healthy individuals, but is not appropriate for those who have health conditions such as compromised immune systems or asthma, she said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued holiday guidelines last week to help prevent holiday travelers from catching or spreading the disease.
The agency said that travel means confinement in close quarters on airplanes and other transportation can lead to the spread of influenza.
It recommends that people travel only when feeling well and get vaccinations if they are in a priority group, as well as continuing to wash hands frequently and cover coughs and sneezes.
“We know the flu, and especially H1N1 this year, is a big concern for people, but flu shouldn’t ruin the holidays,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a news release from the agency. “By practicing a little precaution, people can enjoy their holidays and stay well at the same time.”
At Colquitt Regional Medical Center there has been only one admission of a patient with flu-like symptoms in recent weeks, hospital Marketing Director Gary Boley said.
“We’re very much in a lull around here,” he said. “There’s nothing out of the ordinary here.”
On Monday the hospital, which had received 200 doses of the injectable vaccine, was giving the shots to health care workers, with the priority on emergency room and OBGYN personnel.
Despite the decline in influenza, Boley said there could be another spike in late 2009 or early 2010 when the flu season arrives.
The CDC reported last week a third consecutive drop in influenza-like illness. However, it said the level of flu is still above those normally seen this time of year.
“I don’t think this is a good time to let down the guard,” he said. “It’s the holiday season, it’s the travel season. We’re getting almost to the time we would normally see the flu. January and February after the holidays is when we start seeing the flu.”
