Inaugural inoculations
Alex Stein, 7, squints while Mike Hedstrom gives him a nasal spray as part of the first H1N1 swine flu vaccinations in the Flathead Valley on Thursday morning at the Flathead City-County Health Department in Kalispell.
Flathead City-County Health Department administered more than 800 doses of mostly H1N1 (swine) nasal flu vaccine Thursday.
Jody White, director of community health, said that number included 80 injected doses given to some pregnant women and children who couldn't receive the nasal mist. The department had set aside 1,000 doses for the clinic scheduled for children 2 to 19.
The turnout was slightly disappointing.
"We were hoping to be out" of vaccine, White said.
The clinic started at 8:40 a.m. rather than 9 a.m. to serve the line of people that extended outside the health department doors. White said the people moved quickly with volunteer nurses helping give vaccine and staffers from other departments assisting with paperwork and traffic flow.
"First thing this morning, people waited," White said. "By 9:30 a.m. everyone was inside."
She said the department will schedule another H1N1 vaccine clinic next week. The days and times will be posted on the department's Web site, flatheadhealth.org, as well as on the flu hot line, 751-8188.
"We'll try to do some alternative hours to help those people who are working and can't get here between 8 and 5," White said.
People continued to arrive for vaccinations Thursday after the 2 p.m. advertised close of the clinic. Some adults also wanted to receive the H1N1 vaccine but the first doses were prioritized for children 2 to 19, since flu mist is most effective for that age group and schools report a higher incidence of disease.
"We did a few pregnant women who happened to come in," White said. "It was mostly children 2 to 19. We saw all ages."
Those women received injectable vaccine as mandated for pregnant women who also are designated as a high-risk group for serious complications from H1N1 flu. The general public will have access to the vaccine after high-risk populations are immunized.
"We receive notice of shipments on Thursday morning" each week, White said. "Then we make the decision on which population and how to distribute based on the type of vaccine and the priority groups."
The department received 500 doses of injectable vaccine earlier this week that were shared with local physicians treating pregnant women. According to the Centers for Disease Control, pregnant women have more severe cases of H1N1, resulting in early labor, severe pneumonia and some deaths.
White said the children receiving the nasal mist Thursday seemed to tolerate well the squirt up each nose. Those under 10 must return for a second dose.
She laughed recalling quotes from youngsters who describe the nose squirt in a variety of ways from "like pillows" to "Darth Vader exploding in my nose."
Kaylane Oliver, 6, sat quietly as the nurse inserted the syringe-looking device and squirted up her nose. She shook her head to the affirmative when asked if it felt OK.
Christopher Tenberge, 15, and his brother Steven, 12, also took their doses in stride.
"It tickled a lot," Christopher said. "My eyes watered but I prefer it in the nose. I can't stand needles."
His brother said it tasted terrible. The nurses handed out little bags of goodies to erase the slight after-taste.
At a Flathead County Board of Health meeting on Thursday, Joe Russell, director of the department and county health department, said he was a little disappointed by the turnout for the first H1N1 clinic.
He said that some people continue to have the perception that H1N1 flu is mild and poses little threat. Russell said he knew of one child severely ill with a temperature of 103 degrees for four days.
"It may be mild, but we have hospitalizations in the Flathead Valley that are severe," he said.
In contrast, demand for the seasonal flu vaccine remains high. A clinic that the department held last week exhausted the first shipment of 2,300 doses two hours before the event was scheduled to end.
White said shipping was delayed on the rest of the 2,700 doses ordered for this fall. Other institutions including a local nursing home and a hospital out of this area received no doses of seasonal vaccine.
A surveillance of local supplies of seasonal flu vaccine found that Safeway in Whitefish has the last 400 doses scheduled for distribution at a clinic today.
Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.