Golden Sun eXtra Your Local News Source, Mohave County, AZ

Mohave County is holding an estimated 25,742 doses of unused H1N1 flu vaccine. The syringes, nasal spray mists and glass vials still sit in their original manufactured packaging — cardboard boxes.

On the day the Mohave County public health officials decided to shut down their three temporary H1N1 vaccine clinics, 2.12, those clinics had doled out 13,158 vaccines since the first shipment was received here in October.

According to a county health official, almost 34% of the vaccine was given to residents. Figures including vaccine distribution at the county’s four main health clinics were unavailable Friday, and the distribution totals do not include private providers, said Jennifer McNally, Mohave County Public Health Department spokeswoman.

Even though Mohave County’s vaccine supply exceeded its demand, McNally and state and federal health officials are still waiting to see if a third wave of the swine flu pandemic sweeps the nation in coming months.

Mohave County had the highest percentage of its flu cases confirmed as H1N1 — or swine flu, the new virus that first appeared in Mexico last spring. The new strain puzzled health officials as to how it jumped from pigs to humans.

World and national health officials moved quickly almost one year ago to produce a new vaccine and discouraged travel to attempt to contain its outbreak, citing that because the strain was new, most people would not be immune to it. The new strain also unexpectedly claimed more children’s and healthy young adults’ lives.

For more information on the vaccine, call the local county health department at 928-753-0703 or visit the county website.

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