three new deaths in Utah...
H1N1 spread continues to slow
Vaccine » Some health departments open up doses to general public
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 12/02/2009 05:26:29 PM MST
Three more Utahns have died and 37 more have been hospitalized due to the H1N1 flu, according to the state’s weekly update.
One person, between the ages of 5 and 24, died in the Weber-Morgan Health District.
A woman older than 65 died in the Central Utah Health District,
and a woman between the ages of 50 and 64 died in the Southwest Utah Health District.
A total of 23 Utahns have died from causes related to the flu since its second wave in late August.
Nevertheless, the percentage of patients seen for influenza-like illness has dropped for the fifth straight week.
In response to waning demand for the H1N1 vaccine, the state’s 12 local health departments, which control the distribution of the federally funded doses, are starting to change who qualifies for the shots or flu-mist.
Davis County is now opening up vaccinations to the general public, as is the Weber-Morgan Health Department and Central Utah Public Health Department.
Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah and Summit counties, along with the Southwest Utah Public Health Department and Bear River Health Department, continue to limit the doses to priority groups including children, pregnant women and adults under age 64 with chronic health conditions.
Next week, Utah County plans to expand to individuals that regularly work closely with children, such as teachers and day care providers.
The health departments had hoped to have the same rules on who could get the vaccine, but demand differed too much across the state.
To find out what your health department is doing, visit www.ualhd.org/Department/Department.htm for a list of their Web sites.
Heather May
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_13910148
three new deaths in Stanislaus County, California (buried in an article about vax)....
Wednesday, Dec. 02, 2009
Swine flu vaccine is limited in Modesto area
County health officials still bypassing public in favor of high-risk groups
By Ken Carlson
Stanislaus County health officials still are directing available H1N1 vaccine to local health care providers that serve people in high-risk groups — passing over members of the general public for another month.
[snip]
Stanislaus County has not seen a let-up in fatalities.
Six of the 13 deaths in the county have occurred since Oct. 21. The most recent victims were a 44-year-old man who died Nov. 5, a 65-year-old woman Nov. 21 and a 27-year-old man Nov. 26. There often are delays in confirming H1N1 fatalities through lab tests.
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/955650.html