Dr. Bonnie Sorensen, Volusia County Health Department director, and Dr. Richard Duma, Halifax Health director of infectious diseases, told medical professionals and others Wednesday they are preparing for the worst-case scenario, comparing it to a hurricane.
"We do know an H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak is inevitable," Sorensen said.
What you need to know:
TIMETABLE: A total of 100,000 doses of the voluntary and free vaccine are expected by Oct. 31, then 32,000 doses weekly thereafter. The first 4,800 doses, in a nasal form, could arrive Sept. 30 or Oct. 1. for health care workers. Injections for children could start Oct. 24.
FLAGLER COUNTY: Some 87,000 doses ordered. Health care workers will be served first as soon as the vaccines arrive followed by at-risk. Flagler hopes to have Saturday clinics starting Oct. 24.
PRIORITY: Pregnant women; children 6 months and older; young adults under 25; health care and emergency responders; parents of those less than 6 months old and people 25 through 64 who have medical conditions. Only one shot is needed for the swine flu except children under 10 need two shots, health officials said. People are still encouraged to also get the seasonal flu shot.
SYMPTOMS: Fever or chills, cough or sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea or vomiting.
DEATHS: -RD Seasonal flu causes more than 36,000 deaths a year nationally. In Volusia County, 260 people who died last year had their death attributed to seasonal influenza compared to 390 two years ago and 600 three years ago, Sorensen said. There have been 87 deaths in Florida attributed to the H1N1/swine flu, including three in Volusia. There have been none in Flagler.
"We do know an H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak is inevitable," Sorensen said.
What you need to know:
TIMETABLE: A total of 100,000 doses of the voluntary and free vaccine are expected by Oct. 31, then 32,000 doses weekly thereafter. The first 4,800 doses, in a nasal form, could arrive Sept. 30 or Oct. 1. for health care workers. Injections for children could start Oct. 24.
FLAGLER COUNTY: Some 87,000 doses ordered. Health care workers will be served first as soon as the vaccines arrive followed by at-risk. Flagler hopes to have Saturday clinics starting Oct. 24.
PRIORITY: Pregnant women; children 6 months and older; young adults under 25; health care and emergency responders; parents of those less than 6 months old and people 25 through 64 who have medical conditions. Only one shot is needed for the swine flu except children under 10 need two shots, health officials said. People are still encouraged to also get the seasonal flu shot.
SYMPTOMS: Fever or chills, cough or sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea or vomiting.
DEATHS: -RD Seasonal flu causes more than 36,000 deaths a year nationally. In Volusia County, 260 people who died last year had their death attributed to seasonal influenza compared to 390 two years ago and 600 three years ago, Sorensen said. There have been 87 deaths in Florida attributed to the H1N1/swine flu, including three in Volusia. There have been none in Flagler.
