Updated at: 10/29/2009 5:39 PM | KSAX.com
By: Megan Matthews
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Douglas County Public Health: Benefits Outweigh H1N1 Vaccine Dangers

Alexandria, Minn. - Everyone should get the vaccine once it becomes readily available, and its benefit outweighs any H1N1 vaccine  dangers, according to Douglas County Public Health Director Sandy Tubbs. 

Schools all over the state and right here in Douglas County have scheduled H1N1 clinics during school hours, but they need parental permission to vaccinate.  Douglas County Public Health says under most circumstances the benefits outweigh the risks.

"We're encouraging everyone to have the H1N1 vaccine if they choose to do that even if they've already become ill," Sandy Tubbs, Public Health Director, said, because people who were sick may not have had H1N1. 

"There's no danger if you had the H1N1 virus, which is likely not confirmed, and then you get the vaccine.  There's no additional danger whatsoever," Tubbs explained. 

If you haven't had H1N1, the benefits of the vaccine strongly outweigh the risk, according to Tubbs.  The vaccine is almost exactly the same as the Seasonal Flu Vaccine; it's made by the same process and by the same manufacturers, Tubbs went on to explain.

The side effects include soreness at the injection sight and other mild cold symptoms, but Tubbs still recommends everyone get the vaccine.

"Eventually all of the children, all of the adults, all of the citizens in the county that choose to get it will be able to get the H1N1 vaccine," Tubbs said.

That's not going to happen for some time.  In fact, school-based clinics won't happen on November 16th like public health anticipated, because they will not have enough vaccines to offer to grades kindergarten through 12.

When Public Health receives more vaccines they will start with younger grades, because children under the age of ten have to get two vaccines to build up immunity. 

"When we get it we'll start with them knowing that we'll have to go back in four weeks to give the second dose," Tubbs said, "This is going to take a long time, it's going to be all winter."

Written for the web by Megan Matthews

megan@ksax.com