Swine flu vaccines continue to be dispensed to students

After watching his classmate receive an injection of the swine flu vaccine, 6-year-old Andy Leonard asked the nurse, "Can you make mine quick?"

"Just like this," he instructed, making a syringe with his thumb and forefinger to show how quickly he wanted it go.

Luckily for Andy, the nurse explained, his parents opted for him to receive the nasal mist rather than the shot.

Fritsch Elementary School was in the first group of schools to have a free vaccine clinic available for the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

Clinics will be set up today at Empire, Fremont and Seeliger elementary schools, with others planned next month for St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School as well as elementary schools in Lyon and Douglas counties.

As more vaccine becomes available, clinics will be offered at middle and high schools as well.

"It's a wonderful service that Carson City Health offers to make it easier for families," said Pam Graber, public information officer for the health department. "The children are a high priority group. It's important they be in the first wave of recipients."

Although Andy was initially worried the nasal mist might hurt as well, the Fritsch first-grader was pleased with the result.

"It was good," he said.

Officials said it was pretty evenly split among students opting for a shot versus the mist. Although the mist isn't painful, some are skeptical of the new method, preferring the tried and true injection.

"They are equally effective," Graber assured.

The Carson City Health Department began offering free vaccines Thursday, when 443 people deemed at high risk were inoculated. They are planned to continue every Monday and Thursday.

However, Graber said, the supply is beginning to run low. Rather than cancel the clinic, she said they will continue to vaccinate as many as possible.

"We've been told that if you've got the vaccine, don't sit on it. Don't stockpile it," she said. "Get it into as many arms and noses as you can."

She said the Centers for Disease Control have assured them "significantly more vaccine is becoming available."

"Based on this information, the planned clinics will occur," Graber said. "Supplies are limited at this time, but the CDC assures that vaccine will be more plentiful in the upcoming weeks."

Although 1,871 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Nevada, Graber said that number is "pretty irrelevant."

She said many more have likely contracted the virus but did not seek medical attention or were not tested.

Statewide, 15 people diagnosed with swine flu have died, 12 of them in Clark County.

Priority groups eligible for the vaccine include pregnant women, health care workers, adults who care for infants 6 months old or younger and children 6 months to adults 24 years old.

People who are 25 to 64 years old with compromised immune systems or underlying medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease are included as well.

Health officials said it will be available to the general population later this fall.