By: Apache County Public Health Services, Special to The Independent
11/17/2009

As myths and facts swirl around about the H1N1 vaccine, the virus continues to take its toll on Arizona residents. The current flu season has already exceeded the peak months of the previous two flu seasons.

 Adding to this, the CDC reported that "pandemic H1N1 influenza activity continues to spread throughout the country, with 48 states reporting widespread activity and two reporting local or regional activity."
Apache County Public Health is dedicated in helping minimize the spread of the H1N1 virus to the citizens of this county and is ready to vaccinate residents who are interested in receiving this vaccine.
The 2007-2008 flu season in Arizona ended with about 5,168 lab-confirmed influenza cases. The 2008-2009 flu season ended with approximately 9,149 lab-confirmed influenza cases. According to the ADHS weekly influenza summary, this current flu season, which officially began Oct. 4, is already showing 9,839 confirmed influenza cases with 47 percent (4,644) of this number being lab-confirmed H1N1. There have also been a total of 62 deaths in Arizona since the beginning of this flu season attributed to the H1N1 virus.
If this pattern continues, we will be experiencing an unprecedented flu season that has already surpassed the final numbers of each of the last two flu seasons.
The H1N1 virus adds to this dilemma by continuing to increase in numbers at an alarming rate. With the boost in H1N1 vaccine supplies being distributed to all the counties, it is crucial as many people as possible take advantage of this and get vaccinated.
Current studies by ADHS show the most vulnerable age group is 5-18 years of age. The next highest percentage is 19-49 years of age.
Apache County Public Health Services has aggressively targeted these areas by offering a number of clinics at school sites throughout Apache County and wants to help you combat the H1N1 flu virus by offering first clinics open to all age groups Nov. 21 at the Public Health Building, 323 S. Mountain Ave., in Springerville, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Dec. 5 at the Public Health Clinic, 1200 W. Cleveland, in St. Johns, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.


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