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Aiken High inducts students into National Technical Honor Society
11/20/2009 5:26 PM
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Police nab final Aiken drive-by suspect
11/20/2009 5:26 PM
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Woman knits 200 caps for charity
11/20/2009 5:26 PM
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ACSO investigating suspicious death
11/20/2009 8:21 AM
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Unprofessional behavior plagues SRS
11/19/2009 5:24 PM
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Atlantic keeps families in touch
11/19/2009 5:24 PM
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Commission shoots down zoning for 'sporting park'
11/19/2009 5:25 PM
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Aiken-raised author brings up topic of race
11/19/2009 4:26 PM
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National parks delegates meeting in Aiken
11/19/2009 4:26 PM
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Havoc comes to enchanted land in educator's 22nd production
11/19/2009 4:26 PM
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Columnist offers CSRA read
11/19/2009 3:45 PM
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Course teaches officers how to better detect drunken drivers
11/19/2009 4:27 PM
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Couple to sign books on South
11/19/2009 3:45 PM
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Horse clinic to address shots, saddles, more
11/19/2009 3:44 PM
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Seniors get crash course in politics
11/19/2009 3:44 PM
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N.A. officer arrested, suspended
11/18/2009 6:27 PM
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SPCA brings Santa in for pet pictures
11/18/2009 9:39 PM
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Local news in brief for Nov. 19
11/18/2009 9:38 PM
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Solicitor eyes vacant library wing for expanded offices
11/18/2009 5:45 PM
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Today is the day to kick the habit
11/18/2009 5:46 PM
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Schools will offer swine flu vaccine
11/18/2009 5:46 PM
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School district gets good evaluation
11/18/2009 5:06 PM
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'Much Ado' production has enthusiastic audiences
11/18/2009 5:06 PM
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ADDA unveils new medallion
11/18/2009 3:32 PM
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'Battle' to help Child Advocacy Center
11/18/2009 3:33 PM
H1N1 vaccine only for priority groups
11/3/2009 9:00 PM
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The line of people waiting for the Novel H1N1 vaccine wrapped around the corner of the Aiken County Complex on Tuesday, but some were shocked to learn they were not yet in the priority group to receive the vaccine.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control told a few people they were not eligible to receive either the nasal spray or shot because their age, primarily, does not fall in the group considered to be at the highest risk for contracting H1N1 as named by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A sign just inside the door of the Aiken County Health Department, where the clinic was being held, noted the priority groups were pregnant women, those ages 6 months to 24, caregivers of infants younger than 6 months and health care workers.
Many young children stood with their parents or grandparents in line Tuesday as well as women who were pregnant.
An older man, who asked not to be identified, was turned away because he was told his age demographic was not yet eligible to receive the vaccine.
Health department staff directed all media inquiries to Barbara Grice, director of health education and community services for Region 5 Public Health.
Grice could not be reached for comment.
According to its website, the CDC recommends, "that once the demand for vaccine for these target groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from ages 25 through 64 years. Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people over the age of 65."
"We are counting on people to be honest and use good judgement," said Jim Beasley, SCDHEC spokesman. "If you're not in a priority group, please understand you're not as vulnerable. You wouldn't want to take the vaccine away from someone who is more vulnerable than you. We strongly encourage people to contact their private health care providers for the vaccine. We suspect the majority of H1N1 vaccines will be administered by private providers."
Miranda Skinner stood toward the front of the line with her 7-year-old daughter Mallory.
"I don't want to get the swine flu," Miranda said. "If we can do anything to stay healthy, we'll do it. I have asthma and she (Mallory) is under 24."
"It's an important thing, and I think everyone should get it," Mallory said.
Mallory said she stays healthy by eating a lot of fruit and a lot of "green stuff." Health care professionals recommend washing your hands often with soap and water, trying to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and staying home if you get sick to prevent the spread of illness.
"I am not going to risk not getting it," said Sirena Ahlers, who is due next week with her second child. "I have been concerned with it because I'm pregnant, and I have a toddler, too."
On Friday, South Carolina was allocated another 131,000 vaccines. Beasley said once county health departments and private providers place their orders, the vaccines should arrive by the end of next week.
11/3/2009 9:00 PM
3 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friendThe line of people waiting for the Novel H1N1 vaccine wrapped around the corner of the Aiken County Complex on Tuesday, but some were shocked to learn they were not yet in the priority group to receive the vaccine.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control told a few people they were not eligible to receive either the nasal spray or shot because their age, primarily, does not fall in the group considered to be at the highest risk for contracting H1N1 as named by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A sign just inside the door of the Aiken County Health Department, where the clinic was being held, noted the priority groups were pregnant women, those ages 6 months to 24, caregivers of infants younger than 6 months and health care workers.
Many young children stood with their parents or grandparents in line Tuesday as well as women who were pregnant.
An older man, who asked not to be identified, was turned away because he was told his age demographic was not yet eligible to receive the vaccine.
Health department staff directed all media inquiries to Barbara Grice, director of health education and community services for Region 5 Public Health.
Grice could not be reached for comment.
According to its website, the CDC recommends, "that once the demand for vaccine for these target groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from ages 25 through 64 years. Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people over the age of 65."
"We are counting on people to be honest and use good judgement," said Jim Beasley, SCDHEC spokesman. "If you're not in a priority group, please understand you're not as vulnerable. You wouldn't want to take the vaccine away from someone who is more vulnerable than you. We strongly encourage people to contact their private health care providers for the vaccine. We suspect the majority of H1N1 vaccines will be administered by private providers."
Miranda Skinner stood toward the front of the line with her 7-year-old daughter Mallory.
"I don't want to get the swine flu," Miranda said. "If we can do anything to stay healthy, we'll do it. I have asthma and she (Mallory) is under 24."
"It's an important thing, and I think everyone should get it," Mallory said.
Mallory said she stays healthy by eating a lot of fruit and a lot of "green stuff." Health care professionals recommend washing your hands often with soap and water, trying to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and staying home if you get sick to prevent the spread of illness.
"I am not going to risk not getting it," said Sirena Ahlers, who is due next week with her second child. "I have been concerned with it because I'm pregnant, and I have a toddler, too."
On Friday, South Carolina was allocated another 131,000 vaccines. Beasley said once county health departments and private providers place their orders, the vaccines should arrive by the end of next week.
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3 comment(s) on this storySpeaking of hap-hazard : 11/4/2009
The gentleman that was turned away by a worker was also told to stay by a different worker before that. How is that for hap-hazard?
Shame on Pediatrics : 11/4/2009
I stood in line with my grandchild exactly three hours yesterday. I was told by the health care worker giving the injections that pediatricians were offered the vaccine for children under two but declined it. I would like to know WHY? My thought is that their patients health was not their first consideration. My grandchild will require a second H1N1 vaccine in four weeks, so I will have to be diligent in seeking this second vaccine. Where and when? Communication of dates and times seem haphazard. I only found out about the vaccine being administered at the health dept. yesterday two hours before the time.
Terroists at Gitmo are priority for H1N1 vaccine : 11/4/2009
In spite of denials coming from the ever-untruthful White House, the Pentago announced they would be providing the H1N1 vaccine to the terrorists held at Gitmo.
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