Marietta Health Department
Marietta Health Department
H1N1 cases in Cherokee stabilized
Reports of flu-like symptoms appear to shrink in Cherokee County, and thousands of vaccines against H1N1 still up for grabs.
The Cherokee County Health Department has about 7,500 injections and nasal H1N1 vaccines available at its offices in Canton and Woodstock.
During a campaign of vaccination influence of two days last week, the county has distributed 1,660 vaccines in both forms.
Last week he received 9,200 county out of the 19,000 doses were given to Georgia, North Health District, which includes Cherokee.
"We still have a lot of vaccine left," said Jennifer Moorer, head of public information for Georgia, North District Health.
The vaccines were also distributed to Health Care providers in care and pharmacies to dispense to customers. To see where vaccines are close to you, a locator is available on the website of the department of health at www.nghd.org.
Mrs. Moorer said residents should take advantage of the vaccine, which is free from all suppliers.
A fee may be charged through Medicare, Medicaid and all insurance third party including the State Health Benefit Plans United Health Care and Cigna. Residents are invited to bring their insurance cards.
Service is on a first come, first serve basis until the current vaccine supply is exhausted. The priority groups that will be the first to receive the injectable vaccine, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are: pregnant women, health care and emergency medical personnel; people living with and caring for children younger than 6 months, someone from 6 months to 24 years old, and anyone aged 25-64 who have medical conditions that put them at greater risk for influenza-related complications.
Children under 10 who received the first H1N1 vaccine are needed to get the second dose after 28 days.
Jeff Mathis, practice administrator to DV Pediatrics in Canton, said that active cases of flu-like symptoms have slowed down in his office on the highway Marietta.
The peak months are August and September, which gives the peak Mathis normal diseases be passed when the students return to school.
"H1N1 was put into the mix, "he said.
Mathis said the office has also seen a decline in demand parents on H1N1 vaccines.
While it is calm now, Mathis is expected to increase in January the cold settles in Georgia and children begin to show symptoms cold and flu-like.
The Number of active cases, he said, probably will peak at the latter part of January and begin to decline in the spring.
A Cherokee County School District schools, where the number of cases reported flu-like topped 700 this fall, attendance rates continue to stabilize.
During the week of November 30, the rate of no average was 3.37 percent lower from 3.93 the week of November 16 and 3.96 the week of Nov. 9, according to Dr. Brian Hightower, director of operations school district.
The absence rate peaked at 6.21 percent the week of October 26 to 30.
The number of reported flu-like symptoms Nurse reported school district has also slowed. Only five cases have been this month, with 73 reported in November, according to school district lead nurse Gwen Chambers.
There have been 257 reports in October, 452 in September and 84 in August.
Dr. Samuel Gold Towne Lake Pediatrics said he has seen a "significant decline" of reported flu-like symptoms. The office is now being "passed" with other upper respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis.
Even if cases are dropped, Gold said it was encouraging patients to get vaccines for seasonal H1N1 and prepare for a second striker that could affect earlier this year.
"We are still pushing the vaccine," he said.
flu-like cases have also slowed down to Little Hickory Pediatrics in Holly Springs.
Dr. Tim Lorenz said that the decline in active cases of flu-like symptoms began to decline last month.
"I think that things have settled, "he said.
However, Lawrence has also predict an increase in cases due to start in January and continue through February.
The peak expected, he said, could also lead to another round of government seek to get vaccinated.
"It could come back with a vengeance," he said the strain of H1N1 influenza. "We do not know how bad is going to be."
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Filed under General Interest by on Jul 30th, 2010. 