The Hillsborough County Health Department vaccinated 2,162 elementary school students, their parents and teachers against the swine flu Monday at four after-school centers. ...more

November 4, 2009

Infants to young adults are among the most likely to contract swine flu and should be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus, public health experts say. But what about people in this age group who are taking immunosuppressant drugs to combat chronic health problems such as Crohn's disease, asthma, HIV and rheumatoid arthritis? The answer, according to doctors at the Nationwide Children's Hospital, is yes, but with a caveat: children and young adults taking immunosuppressants should receive the H1N1 vaccine via injection, not the nasal mist. ...more

November 4, 2009

It's Halloween, the unofficial national day of candy consumption. In just a few hours, your little darlings will be coming home with their haul of Lemonheads, Sour Skittles and Kit Kat Bars. And you will once again bemoan the junk and its power to destroy kids' appetite for anything remotely healthful. ...more

October 31, 2009

Q. Is the swine flu shot or the swine flu nasal mist best for children under 18 who have sickle cell trait? Also my 8 year old has sickle cell trait and has to take a monthly shot for allergies to dust mites. Which swine flu option is better, the swine flu shot or the swine flu nasal mist? Also is it true that children under the age of 10 need to have a second dose of the swine flu vaccination? How much time should be between the 1st vaccination and the 2nd vaccaination for children under the age of 10? Thanks. ...more

October 30, 2009

H1N1 vaccines for swine flu are slow to arrive in Pinellas County and elsewhere. ...more

October 28, 2009

More than 22 million doses of swine flu vaccine are available now, and most Americans should soon find it easier to get their dose, U.S. health officials said today. ...more

October 27, 2009

Q. Why did they open the schools, why not wait until everyone had the shot and then open the schools, seems like a lot of people could avoid getting ill. ...more

October 27, 2009

Q. I'm wondering if someone has had symptoms of swine flu i.e. high fever, cough, body aches, etc and H1N1 has not been confirmed but most likely is the illness does the body build up immunity to swine flu and is it still recommended that the person receive the vaccine? ...more

October 27, 2009

The New Port Richey City Council will be convening Thursday evening for a special meeting to address planning implementation in the event of an H1N1 outbreak in the area. ...more

October 26, 2009

The Highlands County Health Department continues to wait for more shipments of the swine flu vaccines to open a vaccination clinic for residents. The first batches of the vaccines have been delivered to local pediatricians and obstetricians for children and pregnant women who are at higher risk for complications. ...more

October 22, 2009