Swine flu diminishing, but not gone; seasonal flu on the horizon

Thousands of people in the Colorado Springs area have been vaccinated against swine flu, and cases have continued to decline since peaking in mid-October.

But health officials are holding off on the celebratory champagne, because they realize that just a tiny fraction of El Paso County’s nearly 600,000 residents have been vaccinated, even though swine flu hasn’t gone away. And seasonal flu is expected any day now.

The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment gave out about 1,100 doses of vaccine Thursday in Fountain, its fourth clinic in two weeks. In all, about 6,500 vaccinations have been given in two weeks.

The county has received some 90,000 doses of the vaccine, most of which went to private health care providers such as pharmacies, doctors’ offices, hospitals and college health clinics. Vaccine continues to come in weekly.

At the same time, new H1N1 cases in Colorado have fallen for the fourth straight week, according to The Associated Press. El Paso County cases appear to have peaked about a month ago.

So where do we stand?

Although 90,000 doses is nothing to scoff at, it’s nowhere close enough to cover everyone in the at-risk groups, much less people who are at less risk but could still benefit from a vaccine, such as seniors over 65.

And though cases are down, swine flu is far from over. State health officials say about 30 people were hospitalized for the flu last week, a number that is expected to rise as late reports trickle in, the AP said. Seven deaths were reported last week, bringing the total to 45 for the season. The 25-49 age group has been hardest hit, with 19 deaths.

With a batch of upcoming rural clinics, another one in the city on Dec. 5, and several through the Visiting Nurses Association, however (see schedule below), health officials are hoping more people will take the illness seriously enough to get a vaccine.

Then, there’s the spectre of the seasonal flu. No cases have been detected yet, said Kandi Buckland, public health director for El Paso County, but she expects it to arrive shortly. Typically, it shows up around the end of November/early December.

Seasonal flu vaccine has been in short supply this year because of unprecedented and early demand. Buckland said finding the vaccine is “spotty.” Unlike the H1N1 vaccine, most of the seasonal vaccine has  been distributed, meaning once it’s gone, no more will come in.

The Visiting Nurses Association believes it has enough of the seasonal vaccine to be able to hold clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays through December. Some pharmacies and doctors might also have seasonal flu vaccine, but call ahead for availability.

GET A SHOT
• The Visiting Nurses Association will hold public clinics through December to provide both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines at its walk-in clinic at 5373 N. Union Blvd., Suite 101. Starting Tuesday, clinics will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except Thanksgiving. Seasonal flu shots are available for ages 6 months and above and cost $25. Seasonal flu FluMist is not available.The swine flu vaccine costs $15.
For updated information, call the VNA’s flu hotline at 457-4349.

• The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment will hold a free swine flu vaccine clinic at 10 a.m. Dec. 5 at The Citadel mall. The agency is also providing mobile clinics to rural areas from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. The schedule: • Monday at the Fountain Fire Department, 212 N. Santa Fe, in Fountain; Nov. 30, Calhan School, 800 Bulldog Drive, Calhan; Dec. 7, Ellicott Elementary School, 399 S. Ellicott Highway, Ellicott.; Dec. 14, Edison School, 14550 Edison Road, Yoder. More information: www.elpasocountyhealth.org 

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