Fall is just around the corner, and so is flu season. Last week the Federal Government announced plans to start testing a Swine Flu vaccination. Soon it will be available in North Central Florida. At last count there were 51 cases of H1N1 in Alachua County and over 2,900 cases in the state. Those numbers may not sound shocking, but once fall arrives numbers are anticipated to sky-rocket.
According to statistics put out by the Associated Press, Swine Flu could hit up to 40% of people in the U.S. Monday and Tuesday representatives from the Alachua County Health Department are in Kissimmee for a state-wide conference to discuss a potential vaccination. "The vaccine is in clinical trials in the United States right now, it is not yet ready for the mass-vaccine campaign that we anticipate having this fall."
Myers says there are a lot of variables that could effect the actual release date of the vaccine. Until then those suffering from previous health conditions such as obesity or asthma, should take extra caution because they have the highest chances of dying from the Swine Flu.