It’s everybody’s turn to get a swine flu shot—even the people previously considered too old to be on the priority list.
The state health department’s priority list when H1N1vaccine was in shorter supply did not include people older than 65. It was felt that people in that category had been exposed to something similar to the H1N1 flu at some time in their lives and were more resistant than younger people.
But state health director Margaret Donnelly says that’s not a certain immunity…and people 65 and older should get their shots. She says, “This is a virus that has not always acted in the way that seasonal flu virus has, in that older adults have not been impacted with the same rate of inflection with H1N1 as they do for seasonal flu. It does not mean, however, that there is full protection for anyone who is over the age of 60 or 65.”
Many of the people who need to get their H1N1shots now have gotten their seasonal flu shots. But those shots won’t protect them from H1N1. Donnelly says the number of people getting their shots at various public venues has increased since the announcement was made that enough H1N1 vaccine is available for everybody. She hopes the momentum continues.
Listen to Bob Priddy’s story  :63  mp3  megdva
Bob Priddy interviews Margaret Donnelly 3:39  mp3 megd17