Vaccination could help lower rate of H1N1 cases in Coos County

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Story Published: Oct 14, 2009 at 3:48 PM PDT

By Kristina Nelson, KCBY News

COOS BAY, Ore. - As we first reported to you last week, Coos County received it's first shipment of H1N1 vaccine and has since been distributing them.

But there are still a lot of questions and concerns from the public about the vaccine and whether to get it or not.

While H1N1 can affect anyone, the people most at risk are younger adults, pregnant women, and anyone with chronic health conditions.

According to Coos County Public Health Officer Dr. Hugh Tyson, during this flu season, 10 to 20 percent of Coos County's population will contract H1N1, that's why he recommends everyone get vaccinated.

"If we can immunize 30, 40, 50, 60 percent of the population, which is our hope, before they get the swine flu, then we can cut down that rate. And we do think the vaccine, from all the testing, will be very effective."

Tyson says there has already been documented cases of H1N1 in Coos County.

Many people locally have questions and concerns about the vaccine, but Tyson says it's safe.

"The critical thing to realize is that if this flu had struck earlier this year, they would have incorporated it into the normal flu vaccine. It's manufactured the same way and it has the same safety record so far," says Tyson.

More shipments of the vaccine are coming in every week to the public health department.

For more information about H1N1 vaccine and local clinics and priority groups, log onto www.flu.oregon.gov or www.co.coos.or.us/ph/

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