By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
JEFFERSON — Better public education is the key to easing public concern about influenza and its vaccines, Dr. Alvin Jackson, Ohio Department of Health director, said during a Thursday visit to Ashtabula County.
Jackson sat down with local health officials and discussed seasonal flu, H1N1 virus and immunization clinics.
During his talk, Jackson said more injectable doses of the flu vaccines will arrive before the season hits hard early next year. Also, the state plans to stress that nasal mist vaccine is just as safe and effective as the injectable kind.
Local physicians, county coroner Dr. Robert Malinowski, State Rep. Deborah Newcomb, D-Conneaut, and representatives of the county, Conneaut and Ashtabula health departments were on hand to talk and listen.
A big concern is the lack of injectable flu vaccines and the reluctance of many people to accept a nasal mist substitute, officials said. Misleading or flat-out wrong stories on the Internet are scaring people away from the mist, Jackson was told.
“People think (the mist) is not safe,” said Christine Kettunen, the county’s director of nursing.
In response, the ODH — in a press conference today — will emphasize the mist is perfectly fine for many folks, Jackson said.
“We need to educate more,” he said. “People need to hear that.”
Injectable doses have lagged because the growth process that yields the vaccine “is not what was expected,” Jackson said.
“It was less than predicted,” he said. “It set us back. But there will be enough for everyone. There will be enough injectables for everyone who wants it.”
The peak flu season is January and February, Jackson said.
In the same vein, too many folks believe the H1N1 vaccine carries unacceptable risks. Not true, Jackson said. National and state agencies are monitoring any and all reports of reactions, he said.
“(The H1N1 vaccine) is as safe as the seasonal flu can be,” Jackson said.
Physicians said patients are anxious to know if they are suffering from seasonal flu or the H1N1-spawned swine flu. In Ohio, tests aren’t conducted unless the patient is admitted to a hospital.
The state doesn’t test extensively for H1N1 because the ODE has come to the conclusion that the majority of flu is now the H1N1 variety, Jackson said. As a result, the state is putting its resources into prevention and treatment instead of testing, he said.
Some of the concern stem in part from a “fear of government,” Newcomb said. “We need to make them feel comfortable,” she said.
Folks must remember that no one is required to get a vaccination, Jackson said.
“It’s voluntary,” he said. “We encourage you to take it. A certain part of the population needs to be immunized to protect the other part. If we cut down the first wave (of illness), we have less problems with the other waves that come along.”
The silver lining to all the chatter is that awareness is sky high, Jackson said.
“The good news is people are alert to influenza,” he said. “We’ve given out more flu shots than ever. Usage is up.”
