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Atlanta health, diet and fitness news 12:36 p.m. Thursday, October 8, 2009
More details emerge about Georgia deaths from H1N1
By Shelia M. Poole
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the state prepares to receive more vaccine against H1N1, the number of deaths from swine flu in Georgia continues to rise.
So far, 27 people have died from H1N1, which is widespread in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Community Health. DCH Commissioner Rhonda Meadows said two of the deaths have been pregnant women and four have been children. The swine flu is considered widespread in the Georgia.
All of the people who died had underlying conditions with the exception of a seven-year-old girl from Dalton, she said. Candy Chen, a second-grader at City Park Elementary School, died after a brief hospital stay, according to school and health officials.
Because children seem to be at greater risk of catching swine flu, ages 2-4 were designated to be high priority to get first doses of the spray vaccine. Earlier this week, public health district began receiving and administering the vaccine in a nasal mist form. About 50,000 doses of the injectable form is expected to arrive within the next week, said Meadows, during a DCH board meeting Thursday.
She also said new features would be added to the department's website that will allow Georgians to search for vaccine provider locations. The state will also establish a 24 hour, seven day a week call center to help. Both should be functional soon, she said.
Atlanta health, diet and fitness news 12:36 p.m. Thursday, October 8, 2009
More details emerge about Georgia deaths from H1N1
By Shelia M. Poole
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the state prepares to receive more vaccine against H1N1, the number of deaths from swine flu in Georgia continues to rise.
So far, 27 people have died from H1N1, which is widespread in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Community Health. DCH Commissioner Rhonda Meadows said two of the deaths have been pregnant women and four have been children. The swine flu is considered widespread in the Georgia.
All of the people who died had underlying conditions with the exception of a seven-year-old girl from Dalton, she said. Candy Chen, a second-grader at City Park Elementary School, died after a brief hospital stay, according to school and health officials.
Because children seem to be at greater risk of catching swine flu, ages 2-4 were designated to be high priority to get first doses of the spray vaccine. Earlier this week, public health district began receiving and administering the vaccine in a nasal mist form. About 50,000 doses of the injectable form is expected to arrive within the next week, said Meadows, during a DCH board meeting Thursday.
She also said new features would be added to the department's website that will allow Georgians to search for vaccine provider locations. The state will also establish a 24 hour, seven day a week call center to help. Both should be functional soon, she said.
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