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Reported by: Vanessa Stewart
Email: vstewart@khon2.com
Last Update: 9:40 am
Here in Hawaii, many in the medical field feel we're lucky because the second wave of the H1N1 Swine Flu has not affected many people here.
Some doctors in Hawaii say they feel we're lucky we don't have many cases because it gives us a chance to receive the vaccine and prepare for the worst.
Since April millions of people have been infected with H1N1.
In Hawaii, 11 people died from the virus.
"I hope people don't get afraid because he's declaring an emergency he's doing it for good reasons but locally we've been very lucky in regards to the swine flu the H1N1," says Dr. Robert Ruggieri, Kahala Urgent Care.
Residents on the mainland haven't been so fortunate.
People in some places got infected before the vaccine arrived.
"We're lucky we're not getting sick now it will be later so that gives us time to get more of the vaccine in," says Dr. Robert Sussman, The Medical Corner.
Giving Hawaii a head start to prepare before infections take off.
"If we can protect the people that are most at risk that's good again here in Hawaii we have time to get it going," says Dr. Sussman.
More than 58,000 doses of the vaccine are now here in Hawaii...
"The doses that are coming to the states I mean not just Hawaii there kind of trickling down one of the manufacturers had some problems," says Dr. Sarah Park, State Epidemiologist.
And that has slowed down vaccine distribution...
"We know what we have right now as far as what's available for us to order we don't know how much more," says Dr. Park.
And the doses that have arrived are being used to vaccinate first responders, pregnant women and healthcare workers.
"People are calling asking about it a lot and I would encourage people to be patient because we're we can only give it out the way the cdc dictates," says Dr. Ruggieri.
"It's like our waves our surf we all know the set comes in first then there's a lull and then the second set comes in that's bascially what we're waiting for is that second set coming in," says Dr. Park.
The Department of Health encourages everyone to get vaccinated.
Though they advise washing your hands and staying home when sick to avoid spreading your sickness.
Email: vstewart@khon2.com
Last Update: 9:40 am
Here in Hawaii, many in the medical field feel we're lucky because the second wave of the H1N1 Swine Flu has not affected many people here.
Some doctors in Hawaii say they feel we're lucky we don't have many cases because it gives us a chance to receive the vaccine and prepare for the worst.
Since April millions of people have been infected with H1N1.
In Hawaii, 11 people died from the virus.
"I hope people don't get afraid because he's declaring an emergency he's doing it for good reasons but locally we've been very lucky in regards to the swine flu the H1N1," says Dr. Robert Ruggieri, Kahala Urgent Care.
Residents on the mainland haven't been so fortunate.
People in some places got infected before the vaccine arrived.
"We're lucky we're not getting sick now it will be later so that gives us time to get more of the vaccine in," says Dr. Robert Sussman, The Medical Corner.
Giving Hawaii a head start to prepare before infections take off.
"If we can protect the people that are most at risk that's good again here in Hawaii we have time to get it going," says Dr. Sussman.
More than 58,000 doses of the vaccine are now here in Hawaii...
"The doses that are coming to the states I mean not just Hawaii there kind of trickling down one of the manufacturers had some problems," says Dr. Sarah Park, State Epidemiologist.
And that has slowed down vaccine distribution...
"We know what we have right now as far as what's available for us to order we don't know how much more," says Dr. Park.
And the doses that have arrived are being used to vaccinate first responders, pregnant women and healthcare workers.
"People are calling asking about it a lot and I would encourage people to be patient because we're we can only give it out the way the cdc dictates," says Dr. Ruggieri.
"It's like our waves our surf we all know the set comes in first then there's a lull and then the second set comes in that's bascially what we're waiting for is that second set coming in," says Dr. Park.
The Department of Health encourages everyone to get vaccinated.
Though they advise washing your hands and staying home when sick to avoid spreading your sickness.
