Mariana Estrada was initially concerned about getting her two children vaccinated for the H1N1 virus, saying she didn't know what the secondary effects of the inoculation would bring.
But then a close family friend wound up in the hospital for more than a week after contracting the disease, prompting Estrada, 28, to bring her children to the Carson City community health clinic for the vaccination Thursday.
"I realized I might as well just take my kids and get it done," she said. "I'd rather see them cry or go through something for a day than have them go to a hospital for a week."
On Thursday, 443 people got vaccinated for the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. It was the first day the Carson City Health Department offered the inoculation for free to people deemed a high risk for the influenza strain.
Out of the 1,871 confirmed cases of the virus in Nevada, 15 people have died, 12 of them in Clark County, according to the most recent data from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Another death, a 31-year-old woman with no underlying health conditions, was reported in Clark County on Wednesday.
Right now, the vaccine is available to those in priority groups determined to be more vulnerable to the virus, as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials said it will be available to the general population later this fall.
The priority groups include pregnant women, health care workers, adults who care for infants
6 months old or younger and children 6 months to adults 24 years old.
People who are 25 to 64 years old with compromised immune systems or underlying medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease are a priority group, too.
Sandy and Richard Palmer, both 68 of Dayton, said they came to Carson City on Thursday for the H1N1 vaccination, but were turned down because they weren't in a priority group.
"Pneumonia is more prevalent in elderly people so why won't they give us the shot to keep us from getting pneumonia?" Sandy Palmer said
Still, the H1N1 virus has had a greater impact on younger populations than the seasonal flu, which usually has a greater impact on the elderly, according to health officials.
The Carson City Health Department has received about 2,500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine with the majority of vaccines being the FluMist version, which contains a more potent version of the virus that is sprayed into the nose.
The CDC recommends that only healthy people in the priority groups between the ages of 2 and 49 years of age receive the nasal spray while pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions get the shot.
Carson City health officials will give vaccines to Carson School District students from early education to fifth grade on Oct. 28 and 29, with parental consent.
Norman Gregg, 40, brought his two children to the Carson City clinic on Thursday for the vaccine.
"It's kind of scary because you never know," Gregg said. "It's better to be safe than sorry."
Sarah Russel, 30, brought her 17-month-old son, Ryker - a precaution her mother-in-law urged.
Despite some tears, Ryker is a "good shot taker," his mom said.
"I think it's a threat, but I'm not really concerned," Russel said, who also plans on getting vaccinated.
Robert and Ania Hickox, ages 36 and 27, decided to get a vaccine on Thursday now that they have a 3-week-old son at home.
"Before this, I've never had any flu shots ever," Robert Hickox said.
Carson City health officials said they hope to have 40 percent of the population in Carson, Douglas and Lyon counties vaccinated for the virus this flu season.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment