H1N1 fears squeeze vaccine supply
Posted at: 10/23/2009 10:38 AM
By: Brooka Hart, NBC News
Latest numbers from the CDC show one in five children this month had symptoms of the flu. According to researchers, these children likely are showing symptoms of swine flu.
"H1N1 virus continues to be, by far, the predominant strain of virus that's causing influenza in the state," said Dr. Mark Horton, Director of the California Department of Public Health.
Parents are worried. A first grader in Vacaville, California, died Sunday. Her elementary school is closed till next week.
Morgan Conner, a student at Browns Valley Elementary School said, "There's people next to me coughing not covering their mouth, and I'm scared I'm gonna get it."
Some people around the country are frustrated the vaccine is still in short supply. More than 1,000 people lined up in Portland, Oregon, for 400 available doses.
"It's frustrating, but it is what it is. I mean it's a free clinic," said one woman who waited in line to receive the vaccine.
In Las Vegas, some waited hours. Erin Deletto, who is pregnant, said, "I am a little bit neurotic, so it was worth the wait."
Demand was so high some did not receive the vaccine. Southern Nevada Health District's Stephanie Bethel said, "We didn't receive as much of the vaccine as we had hoped for."
But, taking precautions may not be everyone's priority. New York University student Jacki Lewy said, "I would say there are other things on people's minds than swine flu."
Experts say the price for not taking precautions might be paid by others.
"They can carry the virus home and expose a young sibling, a sister, or a friend who happens to be pregnant," said Dr. James Turner, President of the American College Health Association.
Yet, polls show many people remain skeptical of the vaccine. Fewer than half of the people polled say they want it. Health officials now estimate 30 million doses will be available by the end of October, which amounts to 25 percent of their original prediction.
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