Health officials said that the first batch of 2,400 swine flu vaccines will arrive in the county this week, and that 40,000 vaccines will arrive by the end of the month.
Health officials said that the first batch of 2,400 swine flu vaccines will arrive in the county this week, and that 40,000 vaccines will arrive by the end of the month. While the vaccines, available as a nasal spray, will be accessible to all healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49, special priority will be given to children under 10, who are particularly susceptible to infection. The nasal spray is not effective among other vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and people with chronic health problems.
A recent study showed that 7.5 percent of H1N1 related deaths involved children of this age, compared to just 0.01 to 0.04 for regular seasonal flu. The county is taking a more aggressive approach in promoting the vaccine, says County Health Officer Dr. Poki Stewart Namkung, particularly since the county has one of the lowest rates nationwide for people getting seasonal flu shots. Only 15 percent of Santa Cruz residents get a flu shot each year. The flu shot is generally 70-80 percent effective. Read More at the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Fox 35, and KSBW.
