President Obama declared the H1N1 flu, or swine flu, a national emergency this weekend.
Since September 1, 16 people have died in South Carolina from the flu.
Myrtle beach resident Tammy Hill's son was recently sick with the more common seasonal flu, but she still worries her children may get the H1N1 flu.
“It’s very scary because you don't know. It's your child's life that's in danger. There's a lot of people that could be in danger,” said Hill.
Hill is trying to keep her kids safe.
“I just keep telling them to be sanitized and wash their hands at school, cough in their arms and sleeves,” Hill said.
But Hill and her children have not gotten a flu vaccine.
“Well essentially everybody above the age of two should consider having the vaccine, and probably should have a vaccine,” said Dr. Ronald Reynolds at Beach Urgent Care.
Dr. Reynolds says the vaccine is only available within a 50-mile radius of Myrtle Beach, at Beach Urgent Care in the Galleria on Kings highway and in Little River.
Beach Urgent Care tells News 13 that because the H1N1 flu has been declared a national emergency, people who have the virus can receive treatment at a highly reduced rate.
Some of the expensive antivirals used to fight the flu are even being given out for free to some families who cannot afford the medication.
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