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H1N1 vaccine now available in Rockingham

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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

(Updated 4:59 pm)

Staff Reports

WENTWORTH — The Rockingham County Department of Public Health is now offering the H1N1 intranasal vaccine spray on a first-come, first-served basis.

The vaccine is available to healthy people ages 2 to 24 and those 25 to 49 who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months or are health care and emergency or medical personnel.

The H1N1 intranasal vaccine spray is not intended for pregnant women and people with certain health conditions, according to a news release from the Rockingham County Department of Public Health. The intranasal vaccine spray is a live, attenuated vaccine sprayed into the nose. The vaccine virus is weakened so it will not cause illness.

An inactivated H1N1 vaccine, which is given as a shot, will be available in future shipments to the Department of Public Health and can be given to pregnant women and people with certain health conditions.

Area hospitals, medical providers, schools and child care facilities are reporting widespread flu activity, according to the release. The majority of flu cases reported in North Carolina currently are the H1N1 flu.

Like other flu viruses, H1N1 spreads from person to person through coughing and sneezing and sometimes by touching objects contaminated with the virus.

Signs of the H1N1 flu can include fatigue, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, coughing and sneezing. Some people also experience diarrhea and vomiting.

Although most people feel better within a week, serious complications such as pneumonia can occur. This can lead to hospitalization and even death in some cases.

Health department officials said it is important to receive both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu vaccination this year.

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willnottake60

October 13, 2009 - 9:13 pm EDT

For all of those who desire to take the shot, it is their choice. But, I thank God for choices. I will not take the shot because I practice a healthy lifestyle. I wash my hands religiously, get enough rest, exercise and take a multivitamin along with natural herbs. I would rather trust alternative methods whenever possible, instead of taking pharmaceutical remedies. My grandma always treated us with herbs when we were growing up and we never went to the doctor accept to have our tonsils removed. The herbs worked then and they still work for me.