kupchurch@heraldsun.com; 419-6612
DURHAM -- H1N1 vaccines are more available to Durham residents than ever, and now is the perfect time to take advantage of those increased supplies, health officials said at a news conference Monday.
"The good news is that our supplies are higher, and the vaccine is more readily available in our community," Gayle Harris, director of the Durham County Health Department, said at the briefing in the county commissioners chambers. "Although there is not yet enough on hand to vaccinate the entire community, we're pleased with the flow of vaccine."
The health department has started offering H1N1 vaccines in middle and high schools and continues flu clinics at its location on East Main Street every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It will hold a mass walk-in clinic Wednesday at the National Guard Armory on Stadium Drive from 3 to 6:30 p.m. for anyone over 6 months old. There is no fee, and no appointment is required.
In addition, Duke University Health System this weekend began offering the vaccine to anyone in the community it its five Duke Urgent Care clinics in Durham and Wake counties. The clinics are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, and no appointment is needed. More information is available at dukehealth.org/flu
Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease physician at Duke, said at the news conference that although the number of H1N1 cases has dropped somewhat since its peak in October, now is not the time to be complacent.
"We still think people need [the vaccine], because we still haven't hit the time when influenza would normally start circulating," he said. "And typically, our biggest rates in North Carolina are the end of January and start of February."
So far, he said, nearly all flu cases in the state have been the H1N1 type. But that could change.
"The challenge for us moving forward is going to be if we start getting co-circulation of H1N1 and seasonal flu -- to make sure people are vaccinated against both. The message that we've had has been so strong about coming out and getting your H1N1 vaccine, which is correct. But at the same time, you don't want to forget to say: 'Hey, we might still have a big seasonal flu season coming up.' So don't forget both of those parts."
Wolfe said it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to offer full protection. So, with the holidays coming up and people spending time in large groups, now is the ideal time to get the vaccine, which protect against the disease for almost a year, he said.
