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Health officer: Tippecanoe County ready in case of H1N1

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  • Health officer: Tippecanoe County ready in case of H1N1

    Health officer: County ready in case of H1N1

    Q&A with Michael Bohlin

    By TAYA FLORES ? tflores@jconline.com ? February 1, 2010

    Last year, the H1N1 virus was a major healthcare concern among national and local health care officials. The virus spread rapidly during the spring causing a highly publicized push for H1N1 vaccines. A stronger second wave of infection hit the country in the fall

    Although the virus was highly transmissible and sometimes deadly, most sufferers had relatively mild symptoms.

    The push for vaccines continues even though the spread of the virus has dropped. Also, federal money continues to be allocated to local health departments to help with the vaccination effort.

    Dr. Michael Bohlin, county health officer, has been at the forefront of the local vaccination effort. Here, he answers questions about the H1N1 virus and local response efforts:

    Question: The spread of the H1N1 virus has decreased dramatically since the second wave hit in October, do you think this is the end of H1N1 or do you think we?ll see a resurgence before the end of winter?

    Answer: The third wave historically would be between April and August, somewhere in that time frame. It may not happen, but in this intervening time what we are trying to do is get as many people vaccinated as we can. We don?t feel as much pressure because now the cases have died down quite a bit, but if there is a third wave we should be in a lot better shape and hopefully not have as many people get sick.

    Q: Is the seasonal flu circulating in our area?

    A: It is, but not very much. It definitely is not a lot, which is wonderful. The amount of vaccine that we had to cover this year was pretty sparse. So we?re really hoping for a light season. We?ll know by the middle of March if we haven?t seen a lot of activity.

    Q: Tippecanoe County received a $353,000 grant Jan. 19 to help with the county health department?s H1N1 response effort? At this point do you think the health department needs it?

    A: We are very aware that this is taxpayer money. We see it as our money, my own tax money and we are not going to use it unless there?s a reason to. It is very nice to have it if the third wave becomes of any size.
    Right now it?s hard to imagine we?d spend that much money. So, more than likely I would imagine most, if not all of it, will go back.

    Q: The Tippecanoe County Health Department has already held public vaccination clinics in the community and at Purdue University and disseminated vaccines to local physician offices. What else is there to do?

    A: We?ve done shot clinics for two of the school corporations. The third corporation, TSC (Tippecanoe School Corporation) I think we?re doing in February. We are looking at businesses in town and approaching at least the larger ones and seeing if they are willing for us to come and do shot clinics in their area. Plus, (there?s) the continued shot clinics that Donella (Carter) is doing at the health clinic. If we continue to do that I think we?ll be in pretty good shape for the third wave.

    Q: Do you think all the preparation for H1N1 was worth it or do you think it was blown out of proportion?

    A: I think it was worth it. The reason is people forget that with any disease process such as pneumonia or a virus or whatever, you are trying to predict something that is very chaotic. It was very contagious, we knew that and at any point it could have became something that was a lot more detrimental to our population and our way of life.

    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela
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