Pulaski has swine flu vaccine

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Lisa Poole

October 12, 2009

By CHRIS HARRIS, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Mon Oct 12, 2009, 07:32 PM EDT

Somerset — Those concerned about the spread of the H1N1 virus can breathe a little easier now — the Lake Cumberland District Health Department (LCDHD) now has vaccinations which will soon be available to the public.

The LCDHD received a small amount of the vaccine for what is commonly known as the “swine flu” late last week, though these first doses are solely in flu mist form, a nasal spray.

The vaccine will be offered to specific target groups at the flu clinics scheduled this Saturday in the LCDHD’s 10-county coverage area — here in Pulaski county, it will be held at Meece Middle School. This will be the first H1N1 vaccination clinics for this area, but more will be planned as the vaccine continues to become more available.

Those aforementioned target groups mean only healthy individuals will be eligible for these initial vaccinations — specifically, healthy persons ages 2-24, health care personnel (including paramedics and EMT workers) up to age 49, and health adults ages 49 and under who care for children less than six months old. Health care workers should check with their respective agencies to make certain whether or not nasal spray vaccination is allowed.

Anyone with health conditions like as pregnancy, asthma, immune system problems, or long-term conditions such as heart disease or lung disease are not candidates for the vaccine.

“It’s a live virus, but it’s a weakened virus,” said Amy Tomlinson, LCDHD Public Health Services Coordinator, of the vaccine. “Basically anyone who has anything wrong with them (can’t be vaccinated).”

Tomlinson said that there have been no more confirmed swine flu cases in Pulaski County since one man was diagnosed back in August, but that doesn’t mean it’s not here — it’s just that a strict set of state regulations make it difficult to confirm. Tomlinson did say that there are increasing numbers of flu-like illnesses in the LCDHD coverage area, and four school districts in that territory have had to close for that reason.

The H1N1 vaccine is provided free of charge. Seasonal flu vaccinations will be given from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Meece Middle School, and H1N1 vaccinations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those who get a seasonal dose in the morning will not need to come back for a second one later in the day.

However, it is possible to have vaccinations for both flu types. The H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. They are intended to be used alongside each other to protect people from both types of flu. The two mists should not be administered at the same time, though.

The cost for the seasonal flu vaccine is $23. Charges are covered by Medicaid and Medicare Part B. Humana insurance is accepted; the co-pay is due at the time of service.

People should bring their Medicare/Medicaid insurance cards and if possible, wear a short sleeved shirt to speed up the process.

After receiving the first limited shipment, LCDHD expects to continue to receive H1N1 vaccine consistently. These following shipments are expected to include and injectable vaccine which will be prioritized for the vaccine target groups, which include pregnant women and those with serious medical conditions.

Those in need of vaccinations should take heed. The LCDHD announced Tuesday that the state has now seen its fifth H1N1-related death and the second in Fayette County. It involved a woman in her 60s who had significant underlying health conditions.

As always, the best method of protecting yourself against the influenza virus is early prevention and good hygiene. Washing your hands, avoiding sneezing or coughing onto your hands or other surfaces, and staying home from work or school when your sick are key ways of stopping the spread of sickness during flu season.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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