Comments
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Utah Department of Health on Wednesday reported four more swine flu-related deaths as health departments around the state run low on H1N1 vaccine supplies and try new methods to reduce long lines.
The health department said the new figures bring to 12 the total number of swine flu-related deaths since Aug. 30, the beginning of the flu season. Three of the deaths reported Wednesday occurred in the past week, the other happened earlier.
The number of reported hospitalizations associated with both the H1N1 virus and seasonal flu rose by 130 in the past week to 404, the health department said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, some districts are varying the way they distribute the swine flu vaccine in an effort to reduce long lines that have formed during mass vaccination clinics.
Starting each Monday, the Weber-Morgan Health Department takes calls between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. to make vaccination appointments for residents that week.
Also, local hospitals, obstetricians, pediatricians and community clinics have begun getting shares of the health department's vaccine shipments.
Residents who don't get the H1N1 vaccine through their doctors can contact hospitals, community clinics or the health department, said Gary House, the department's director.
When a larger shipment of vaccine arrives, there will be a two-day clinic at Weber State University and regular clinics will be set up at the Weber County Fairgrounds, the Standard-Examiner in Ogden reported.
On Tuesday, the Davis County Health Department passed out tickets to the first 2,000 people in line who were eligible to get the vaccination. Some had waited overnight.
The department may repeat the method at future clinics so those who won't get a vaccination don't have to wait hours only to be turned away.
The Salt Lake Valley Health Department and Utah County Health Department are out of swine flu vaccine for now.
The Bear River Health Department in northern Utah is not holding clinics in Logan or Brigham City this week after it received a smaller vaccine shipment.
Instead, the 2,100 doses it received Monday will go to emergency services personnel and health care providers. Some also will go to Utah State University and some will be saved for school clinics next week, The Herald Journal in Logan reported.
------
Information from: Standard-Examiner
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
News |
Weather
Traffic |
TV
Sports
Opinion |
Radio |
Classifieds
Announcements
Events
Movies |
Advertise with KSL
Other Resources
Wireless
Legal
Sister Sites
|