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Clark County Health Department reports H1N1 vaccine has arrived  Share n Durham Staff Writer The Clark County Health Department announced that H1N1 vaccinations were to begin this week on Tuesday with the first shots given to kindergarten and first graders. According to their press release, initial supplies for the vaccine are small. More does are expected for shipment, but there are no guarantees when a shipment will be received. Once more vaccine is received, the Health Department will continue vaccinating students in the county schools, targeting the second and third grades next, and so on, until all students have been vaccinated. Pregnant women who are unable to receive the vaccine from their doctors should contact the Health Department to schedule an appointment. They can be reached at 217.382.4207. As more vaccine is received and the Health Department has completed vaccinating Clark Cunty students, they will begin vaccinating other high risk groups. Although news media around the state have reported many schools closed because of the H1N1 virus, officials at Casey-Westfield schools report normal attendance at all three buildings.
Nurse Jackie Tuttle at C-W High School said absentees have been running about 20 or fewer per day. ''We've not experienced a lot of illness yet,'' she said. They have had a good response to the vaccination sign-up. Tuttle said over 100 have returned the form for the shot at the high school and approximately 70 at the Jr. High. Sandy Hibschman, secretary at Roosevelt Junior High School, said only seven students were absent on Wednesday of last week. ''I don't think we can say yet that we've had a significant drop in our attendance,'' she said. At Monroe Elementary, school nurse Amanda Mumford said attendance has been normal. Over 200 students were planning on getting the vaccination this week. Complaints of those students who have been absent include sore throat and stomach aches. A nurse at the Casey Medical Center said they were seeing an increase in calls on Wednesday. ''Today, it seems to be picking up,'' she said. ''We have probably had 50 some calls. We're hearing complaints of a lot of achiness, fever, sore throat, congestion and cough.'' According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), people need to be aware of the symptoms. The common cold, seasonal flu and H1N1 are all respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Cold symptoms are more common and can make the patient miserable for three to five days. A patient usually has a stuffy nose, congestion, some body aches and a growing cough. But, the CDC says, seasonal flu and H1N1 symptoms consist of fever, more painful body aches, dry cough, diarrhea and severe fatigue. It is difficult to tell apart the seasonal strain of flu from the H1N1 variety. They urge anyone who begins to have respiratory problems to see a doctor. Health officials say the only portals of entry for the H1N1 virus are the nostrils and mouth/throat. Therefore, the most common techniques for prevention are frequent hand washing and a ''hands-off-the-face'' approach. Resist all tempatations to touch any part of the face. They also recommend gargling twice a day with warm salt water since the H1N1 virus takes two-three days after initial infection in the throat or nasal cavity to grow and show characteristic symptoms. Dr. Vinay Goyal says gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Lastly, boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C, drink warm liquids, and avoid crowds and sick people. The Casey Reporter
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