Asotin Co. Health official concerned about lack of response to flu clinics

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Story Published: Nov 19, 2009 at 11:24 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2009 at 11:24 PM PDT

By Stephanie Smith

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ASOTIN – The turnout has been lower than expected. That's what the Asotin County Health District is saying about it's H1N1 clinics.

"Our biggest concern is the response in the schools," said Asotin County Health District Administrator Joe Lillard. "We've vaccinated two elementary schools and we did not have the response we were looking for in terms of the kids, knowing the enrollment and then actual number we got. We will do one school next week, because of Thanksgiving week, then we will do two schools a week until we finish all the schools in Asotin County."

Lillard said the more people who get vaccinated, the healthier the community will be as a whole.

"We have to develop a herd immunity by getting a lot of people vaccinated and we are not getting the numbers that we want to get," said Lillard. "We've not had any severe reactions to the vaccine. We've given both the mist and the injections and the worst we have heard is a sore arm and maybe a little redness."

Thanks to a shipment that arrived this week, they have about 800 doses available. Lillard said he hopes people haven't forgotten about the dangers of the swine flu.

"The H1N1 has not gone away," said Lillard. "In the state of Washington, they had I think 16 deaths in one week. Most of these were young adults and children. So make sure to get them vaccinated so we don't have any deaths in Asotin County."

Friday the Asotin County Health District is holding an H1N1 Clinic from 1:00-6:00 p.m. The clinic is for pregnant women, people who live with, or provide care for infants younger than 6-months-old. Children and young adults 6-months through 24-years-old. Medical Service Providers. And persons 25 through 64 who have an underlying health condition.

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