Thursday brought confirmation that this has been the worst flu season in the United States in more than a decade. The root cause is simple: the H1N1 flu.
The CenterS of Disease Control released new data, numbers that reflect the true breadth of the disease.
Dr. Anne Schuchat said, “We estimate that 22 million have become ill from pandemic influenza.”
The new figures are about four times higher than previous death estimates. About 4000 have died from the swine flu, 540 of them, children. Nearly 100,000 people have been hospitalized with the virus.
Locally, H1N1 vaccinations are popping up and being administered in several counties.
But now the vaccination is being given in an odd, yet convenient location: the airport. All you need is $30 and five minutes.
Erin Smith, from Las Vegas, was in town on business. On the way home her travel partner noticed the Hopkins MD stand in the middle of the concourse offering seasonal flu shots. Then they wondered if the H1N1 vaccine was there too.
“I said no they probably don’t,” said Smith. “Because in Nevada you can only get it at the health department, but low and behold they do.”
So after a $30 charge to her credit card and a page of paperwork, Smith got the nasal vaccination.
“It’s the first time that I feel like I needed to get a vaccine,” Smith said. “I’ve never had a flu shot or anything, but it just worries me, my age group is really susceptible, and to me I felt like I need it.”
She also felt it was money well spent.
“For getting sick, how much it would cost to go to the doctor, health insurance all that stuff, absolutely is worth it,” Smith said.
Denise Smith, a medical assistant at the vaccination booth, said convenience is why people stop. She said everybody has had such a hard time locating the vaccine. She thinks the airport is an ideal place for people who travel a lot and have the potential to spread it quickly.
“They’re breathing all that re-circulated air and if anybody travels sick then they could potentially infect the whole plane,” Denise said.
It’s important to note the booth is inside the terminal past the TSA checkpoint, so only ticketed passengers can get to it.
On the first day about 10 swine flu vaccinations were given.
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