(Savannah) "It's still too early to declare that this thing is over. We're no where near the end of this thing." But Dr. Michael Adams of The Coastal Health District and other health experts are encouraged by recent news from the CDC about Swine Flu. The virus is now widespread in just 25 states down from 48 states a week ago. 17 other states including Georgia report scattered outbreaks. The CDC says the number of new cases continue to drop. More people are getting vaccinated, and as that happens it's harder for the virus to spread. "We're seeing a decline in the number of out patient visits to physician offices, clinics, community health systems. We're seeing a decline in patient hospitalization", says Dr. Adams. And while supplies are tight now, more vaccines are on the way. "We still have adequate supplies right now of the injectable and intra nasal vaccine." Dr. Adams says it's hard to tell what the rest of the season will bring. That's why he's urging priority patients to get the vaccine. "Because there's no guarantee whatsoever that this thing wont' resurge or undergo a second wave. We know historically that epidemics in the past such as the 1918 epidemic of influenza as well as the 1957 epidemic came in several waves."
Remember if you have a child under 9 who got the first dose of H1N1 Vaccine, they will still need a second dose 4 weeks later.
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