Doctor urges action after Obama declares H1N1 flu national emergency
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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And by the way, it is only available at the Little River Medical Center IF you are a regular patient. As of last week, they were still not giving it out, but said they would start soon…again if you were their patient.
The CNN website has several videos interviewing the specialists on the shot and talking about the vaccine. They say it is exactly the same as the regular flu shot, just as safe, it’s just a different strain. Not so true the nasal swab, which can actually give you the flu.
What infuriates me is the Horry Cy DHEC is not organized to give the vaccine out! Charleston has already gotten to the point of allowing the general public to receive it. They will hardly even talk to you on the phone here if you call to find out. And I called Urgent Care mid-last week, and they denied having it.
I am going to Charleston to get mine this week. If you have asthma, COPD, or any kind of underlying condition, you should get the SHOT as soon as possible.
Where can you find out more about the shot? I’ve heard good & bad about it & would like to know more.
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