Home swine flu kits needed?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tags:

local/state

WAKE COUNTY (WTVD) -- Health officials say making a home swine flu kit is a good idea while vaccine is in high demand and in short supply.

A few simple items can keep others from getting infected, and ease the suffering of those who do catch the bug.

Long lines at Triangle area health departments drained H1N1 vaccines supplies Monday. Many families in high risk groups went home without one.

"Children are what you're hearing about on the news, you don't hear about adults dying from H1N1, you hear about the death rate for children," mother Erica Bergman said.

Her family went home from a county health clinic without the shot when 3,000 doses disappeared within a few hours. The injectable vaccine is in high demand because more people are able to take the shot than can safely take the nasal mist.

Click here to read more about the shortage

In the meantime, families are buying items on the home swine flu kit checklist that health officials are encouraging everyone to have.

Stores are stocked with masks, sanitizers, antibacterial wipes, disinfectant sprays and thermometers.

It's also recommended you get tissues, fever reducers for adults and children, a two to three day supply of non-perishable food and lots of liquid to keep from getting dehydrated.

"It's all about prevention," father Donald Brayboy said. "It's better to be prepared then to wait until you have it."

As for getting the H1N1 vaccine, Wake and other counties should get more doses by the middle of the week. But officials suggest calling your doctor to see if that office has some.

About three times as many doses went out to health care providers than what the county received.