DULUTH - Northlanders continued to bring their children to SMDC for H1N1 flu vaccines en masse Wednesday, with the total so far this week expected to reach 1,850 people by the end of the day.
SMDC has almost 10,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine.
Some people might be avoiding bringing their children in because they fear the vaccine is more dangerous than the flu, said Dr. Timothy Burke, SMDC epidemiologist and influenza expert, which he called a mistake.
Burke suggested vaccinating all priority-age kids even if they already have experienced flu-like symptoms.
"Even if you think you or they have had [H1N1], the public health guidance is that they should still go ahead and get the vaccine,'' Burke said, adding that there's no danger of the vaccine causing a recurring round of the flu.
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Burke noted that the vaccine isn't 100 percent effective, that some people may still get the flu if vaccinated. It takes 10 to 14 days for the vaccine to kick in, he said; people exposed to H1N1 in the meantime could get sick before the vaccine takes effect.
So far, Minnesota Department of Health officials, who control the vaccines, are sticking with the first priority level for vaccines -- children 6 months to 4 years old, children age 5 to 18 with chronic illness, pregnant women and people who live or work with infants.
While people have come from as far away as the Twin Cities to take advantage of SMDC's vaccine supply, there have been few, if any, cases of people who aren't in a priority group trying to sneak a vaccine.
"The public who we've asked to hold off for now are doing so, and that's been a big help,'' said SMDC spokeswoman Beth Johnson.
SMDC officials started the week at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center and vaccinated 850 people Monday and another 500 Tuesday. But when crowds turned out to be manageable, SMDC moved the vaccination clinic to their First Street building downtown.
"We really didn't know what to expect, so we planned for the worst-case scenario. In some cities people waited in lines for hours. We just didn't know,'' Johnson said.
The only flu circulating in the area is H1N1, which is marked by a fever, body aches and one or more severe cold symptoms. Burke said the current wave of H1N1 influenza sweeping across the region might be only the first of several waves this winter, followed by waves of the normal, seasonal flu.
The SMDC flu vaccine clinic will operate again Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 420 E. Superior St. Wait times on Wednesday ranged from
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60 to 90 minutes, Johnson said. SMDC is the only local provider offering a large-scale vaccination clinic, although others are offering it through traditional doctor visits.
The vaccines are generally free, with most private insurance companies and Medicare covering a state-set administrative cost. Some people who have no insurance might have to pay the fee that ranges from $13 to $20 per shot.
There has been some speculation that the state might make the vaccine available to people outside the first priority category as early as next week, although the Minnesota Department of Health has not confirmed that change. The next groups would include people ages 5 to 24, people ages 25 to 64 with chronic health disorders, and people with compromised immune systems.
For more information call the SMDC flu vaccine hot line at (218) 786-3589.
