Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
H1N1 Virus Still Strong in Michigan
Posted:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Feb 5, 2010 6:03 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT> Feb 5, 2010 05:03 PM CST
Some staggering numbers- thousands of kids across Michigan still need their second dose of the H1N1 vaccine.
Health officials are tackling the problem locally. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. The Michigan Department of Community Health says, just because you haven't heard much lately about the H1N1 virus doesn't mean it's gone away.
James McCurtis, Michigan Dept. of Community Health: "We hit a valley when we went into the holiday season, the numbers decreased and the numbers are still low. What we don't want, though, we don't want people to become complacent and say, oh well, there's no need for me to go out there and have my child get the second dose."
So they're taking action. Health officials say keep an eye out for a letter in the mail next week. They're sending out 176,000 copies to remind parents their child isn't fully protected until they've had their second dose of the H1N1 vaccine. That second dose only applies to children under the age of 10.
Across the state, more than 300,000 have received the first round of the vaccine, but the majority, 65 percent, have not gotten the second.
James McCurtis: "Your child needs to get a second dose for the vaccine to continue to work throughout the flu season."
Health officials say it's a way to keep your kids safe in case another wave of the virus strikes, because all it takes is one more trip to the doctor to keep the prevention up, the flu numbers down and your child safe. If your child needs that second dose and you go to a pharmacy, there could be an administrative fee. Officials say it's available for free at your local health department.
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=11942153
Posted:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Feb 5, 2010 6:03 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT> Feb 5, 2010 05:03 PM CST
Some staggering numbers- thousands of kids across Michigan still need their second dose of the H1N1 vaccine.
Health officials are tackling the problem locally. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. The Michigan Department of Community Health says, just because you haven't heard much lately about the H1N1 virus doesn't mean it's gone away.
James McCurtis, Michigan Dept. of Community Health: "We hit a valley when we went into the holiday season, the numbers decreased and the numbers are still low. What we don't want, though, we don't want people to become complacent and say, oh well, there's no need for me to go out there and have my child get the second dose."
So they're taking action. Health officials say keep an eye out for a letter in the mail next week. They're sending out 176,000 copies to remind parents their child isn't fully protected until they've had their second dose of the H1N1 vaccine. That second dose only applies to children under the age of 10.
Across the state, more than 300,000 have received the first round of the vaccine, but the majority, 65 percent, have not gotten the second.
James McCurtis: "Your child needs to get a second dose for the vaccine to continue to work throughout the flu season."
Health officials say it's a way to keep your kids safe in case another wave of the virus strikes, because all it takes is one more trip to the doctor to keep the prevention up, the flu numbers down and your child safe. If your child needs that second dose and you go to a pharmacy, there could be an administrative fee. Officials say it's available for free at your local health department.
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=11942153