GRAYSON COUNTY, TX – H1N1 vaccines finally arrived at the Grayson County Health Department Wednesday, but the number of doses is far below what the county needs.
Health Department officials say young children are at the top of the list to receive the first round of vaccines. For some parents the limited number of vaccines still bring a little relief.
"There's been cases around here of swine flu and I don't want my son getting sick, I think it's in his best interest if I give him the swine flu shot," said Whitney Vinson.
Her son, Shane Vinson, was one of the first children to receive the H1N1 vaccination in Grayson County Wednesday.
"I think it's very important, there's been actual children that are sick and in the hospital, so I think it's very important,” said Vinson.
The Health Department only has 50 vaccinations as of right now, all in the flu mist nasal spray form. And those 50 doses are already obligated to high risk children 24 to 47 months old.
"I think with the initial amount that we're probably not going to make much of a dent in the population, at least here in Grayson County," said Dr. Al Cardenas, the medical director at Wilson N. Jones Emergency department.
Cardenas says due to the wide spread awareness of flu this year, he believes most people will want to get the vaccine.
"As the vaccine becomes available people are going to afford themselves the opportunity, if they can, to get the vaccine. Because either someone has heard or a family member has had it, and no one really wants to get sick," said Cardenas.
But with the slow production and distribution of the vaccines by the state, doctors worry it might be too little too late.
“If we're waiting for the next couple of weeks will we be a little too late on the vaccination itself to help a large percentage of people, or are those people already going to be exposed and potentially get H1N1... I think only time will tell, we'll know when we know," said Cardenas.
The Grayson County Health Department says they hope to receive 400 to 500 more vaccinations later next week. And they say eventually everyone who wants a vaccination will be able to get one.
In the meantime Cardenas says people must be patient and be proactive in fighting off the flu.
“We should continue the things that we are doing in health care in terms of preventative hand washing, disinfectant and just personal hygiene,” said Cardenas.
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