DeKalb Gets 7,000 Doses Of Injectable H1N1 Vaccine

DeKalb County received 7,000 doses of the injectable swine flu vaccine Monday. Up until Monday, they only had the nasal spray.

DeKalb officials said they are giving the shots at all five of its public health clinics at no charge. It is available only to children and adults in the CDC’s high priority groups.

Christine Cox said she called the health department nearly every day for two months checking on supplies of H1N1 vaccine.

“I’m sure I annoyed them with my phone calls but it was important for me to get the vaccine,” said Cox.

Persistence paid off as she learned Monday that DeKalb just received $7,000 doses.

Two-year-old Madeline was one of the first children to get the nasal spray six weeks ago.

Baby Sam turned 6-months-old Monday – just in time for him to qualify for a H1N1 shot.

It is young children who are among those at highest risk for complications and death from the swine flu.

“It wasn’t so much a panic that drove me here but that I wanted to make sure that my kids were safe and (we were) taking the precautions we needed to,” said Cox.

Shera Hudson, 59, is also at high risk for complications of H1N1. Not because of her age, but because she has asthma and, as a substitute teacher, is around children every day.

Up until Monday, DeKalb County only had the nasal mist – something no one over age 49 can get.

“Too old for the drops, the live vaccine, so I need to wait for the injectable,” said Hudson.

She was pleased to get the shot – unlike the kids.