Two more die of swine flu in MA; Attleboro to hold H1N1 clinic for city residents

Attleboro to hold H1N1 clinic for city residents

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed the death of two more Massachusetts residents within the last week, due to the H1N1 flu. While one of those individuals was over age 45, the other was under five years old - making it the youngest swine flu-related death since the outbreak in April.

This announcement was made as the City of Attleboro scheduled an H1N1 clinic for city residents on Monday, November 23, 2009. Because children hold the highest risk of complications from the flu, the clinic will only be available to children ages 2 to 18. The clinic will administer the vaccine in mist form and is limited to 150 doses.

Quantities are minimal, so residents are required to register in advance to participate in the clinic. To register, send an email to cityofattleboronurse@gmail.com. The city is not accepting phone registrations.

Since the vaccine became available last month, the majority of the state’s allocated doses have been sent to clinical settings, including obstetrician and pediatrician offices. But as additional vaccine supplies become available, we’ll likely see more public vaccination efforts like this.

To date, Massachusetts has received 1 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine – one third of the total amount ordered by the state. However, according to the latest projections from the federal government, we will see a significant increase in the volume of vaccine shipments by the second week in December.

For more info: Make sure you stay informed about the availability of the H1N1 flu vaccine in your community. Look for public clinics in your area. Contact your local public health department or community health center to find out if - and when - clinics will begin in your area. And be sure to stay in touch with your health care provider to inquire about availability. 

Working through the swine flu