FLORENCE, AZ – The nationwide shortage of H1N1 vaccine has forced many health officials to take various measures as to how they can protect the public from the virus.
Pinal County is no different and has faced the same issue of not having enough doses of the H1N1 vaccine to go around its 350,000 resident population.
According to a Thursday news release, the county counts for four percent of the Arizona population so it gets four percent of the vaccine doses that are given to the state.
"Some weeks that can be less than 2,000 doses," said Tom Schryer, the Director of Pinal County Public Health Department. "When compared to a population of more than 350,000, 2,000 doses simply won't to scratch the surface, so there is pent up demand."
County officials have taken several strategies to make sure the vaccine gets to the people who need it most.
Since the H1N1 virus has been documented to have a greater affect on the pregnant women and children with health issues, the county has ensured that over 40 healthcare providers have the vaccine. The county said that these providers have the resources to adequately identify who may or may not immediately need the vaccine.
In addition to healthcare providers, about 14 schools in the area have been served with vaccine administrations.
The county said that its main goal was to use their current amount of vaccine doses wisely and protect those who were high risk for the virus.
Schryer also commented in the press release that the county would be ready to administer the vaccine to the general public once sufficient supplies of it arrive.
For more information on the availability of the H1N1 vaccine in Pinal County, call the H1N1 hotline at 1-888-840-8795 for English or 1-888-840-8796 for Spanish.
Also visit the Pinal County H1N1 website
page for more information.
