Story Created:
Oct 8, 2009 at 9:48 PM CST
Story Updated:
Oct 8, 2009 at 9:48 PM CST
After flu outbreaks in the Redfield and Clark school systems some parents have expressed concerns about not having the H1N1 vaccine.
Today state employees and their families are getting the seasonal flu shot at this flu clinic but the H1N1 vaccine isn't available to the general public yet.
The seasonal flu shot was given to 322 people at the flu clinic in Aberdeen today and some wish it could take care of more.
"I am little concerned about it. I wish this would also take care of H1N1," says Kristen Arunasalam. Grant Manhart is also taking precaution.
"A little more concerned about this new strain but every year our winters are so long and we work very hard and get stressed out so just to be sure we get one."
South Dakota participates in a federal ordering system for the H1N1 vaccine. The state is allowed to order a certain amount based on population and they order the maximum amount.
The manufacturer's are producing the vaccine at a rapid rate but the demand is high for both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine. Kristi Bockorny's daughter was vaccinated today.
"We're trying not to let it overwhelm us and we're definitely taking hand sanitizer with us. I know the teachers at our school are making sure it's in the rooms."
Parents in Aberdeen are hoping not to see the kind of outbreaks other schools have experienced.
"It's a definite concern. You can't have your students missing school. If they are not in the classroom they are not learning. The sooner they get the vaccine available the sooner we can get guarded against the flu," says Jacalyn Ulrich.
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