Local News

Category Listing > Amazing Madison News > H1N1 vaccination effort reaches statewide

H1N1 vaccination effort reaches statewide

Friday December 4th, 2009

PIERRE, S.D. – H1N1 activity is slowing in South Dakota but vaccination is still necessary, say state health officials.

“The H1N1 virus continues to circulate in South Dakota and the flu season is far from over,” said Doneen Hollingsworth, Secretary of Health. “We can’t emphasize enough how important it is that people get vaccinated, particularly if they’re in one of the high risk groups.”

High risk groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months, people from 6 months to 24 years, adults from 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions, and healthcare and emergency medical services workers. As vaccine supplies increase, vaccination will be opened to individuals beyond these high risk groups.

Since the H1N1 vaccine became available in October, the department has distributed more than 165,000 doses to private providers and community vaccination clinics. Public clinics have been held in nearly 100 communities and by December 15 every county in the state will have had at least one public clinic.

“In the past, we’ve worked with the private sector on childhood vaccinations, including flu vaccine the past few years but this large scale effort is unprecedented,” said Hollingsworth, “The providers have been working hard to get the vaccine to their high risk patients and at the same time, the state’s largest health systems – Avera, Sanford and Regional, have worked with us to help organize and staff community clinics across the state. There is simply no way we could be offering so many vaccination opportunities in so many locations without the individual providers, the systems, and countless volunteers on the local level.”

Hollingsworth also reminded parents that their children younger than 10 need two doses of H1N1 vaccine to be fully protected, with the second dose 21 to 28 days after the first dose.

H1N1 vaccine events continue to be scheduled. For an updated listing, as well as prevention and surveillance information, visit http://h1n1.sd.gov.