ROSCOE — Maichle Bacon said he will get vaccinated for the H1N1 flu as soon as doses become available in Winnebago County. He encouraged more than 40 people who attended a community forum Tuesday night at Kinnikinnick Elementary School to do the same.
Bacon, director of the Winnebago County Health Department, was invited to be the guest speaker at the forum hosted by Kinnikinnick School District Superintendent Bob Lauber.
Kinnikinnick, a district of more than 2,100 students, closed the doors to all four of its schools in early May at the recommendation of the Health Department after a student at one of the schools developed a probable, but not confirmed, case of H1N1.
Bacon said scientists and health care providers know much more about the virus than they did five or six months ago, and he does not anticipate such aggressive actions being necessary this school year.
Similar to seasonal flu
Just as the symptoms of H1N1 — a low-grade fever, aches, chills, coughing and sneezing — are similar to the seasonal flu, so is the treatment.
“Home isolations, fluids and rest,” Bacon said. “It’s really not advantageous to treat the novel H1N1 any differently than the seasonal flu unless the symptoms are becoming more severe.”
If that happens — prolonged high fever, a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, becoming pale with a darkening of the lips, for example — Bacon said, “that’s the time they need to contact their health care provider.”
Younger than 25 affected
Bacon also said where H1N1 differs from seasonal flu is the age group of people who are most likely to contract the virus. People 65 and older are more susceptible to the severe consequences of seasonal flu. So far, the largest number of cases of H1N1 has occurred in people younger than 25.
Bacon said it is possible people 60 and older may have been exposed to a similar strain of the H1N1 virus and may have developed a “partial-cross” immunity.
Free H1N1 vaccinations available to all schools and day cares in the county that contact the Health Department may be the best means to ward off the H1N1 flu. Coughing and sneezing into a disposable tissue or into the crook of your elbow and frequently washing your hands may be the best means to keep from spreading the virus.
The three ‘C’s’
Bacon advices all parents to practice the three “C’s:”
Clean surfaces that can easily transmit the disease such as door knobs and desktops.
Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
Contain the virus by staying at home, particularly if you have a fever of 100 degrees or higher along with one or more of the other symptoms.
Bacon said vaccinations should arrive in Winnebago County late this month with more doses becoming available in November and December. “Well before the holidays, we should be able to vaccinate anyone who wants to be vaccinated,” he said.
In addition to schools, the H1N1 vaccinations will be made available at area health care providers, pharmacies and some workplaces, Bacon said.
Jean Zelten and Jill Huett, school nurses at Kinnikinnick and Stone Creek elementary schools, respectively, said they, too, will take the H1N1 flu shot when it becomes available.
“We follow right along with the CDC guidelines,” Zelten said. “It’s just as safe as the seasonal flu vaccinations. That’s what the science is showing.”
Kari Vineer has three children in the School District. She is just as concerned about the side effects of the vaccination as she is about the virus. She left the meeting undecided if she will allow her children to receive the H1N1 vaccination.
“How much research has been done? It seems like it’s too new. What are the side effects of a vaccination? I can’t say this (presentation) has made my decision.”
Staff writer Chris Green can be reached at cgreen@rrstar.com or 815-987-1241.
SPECIAL REPORT
Info on flu, H1N1; where to get shots
WEB RESOURCES
The H1N1 Response Center
CDC: Flu.gov
