The Herald Bulletin

March 12, 2010

State health officials keep pushing swine flu vaccine

Fewer than 11 percent of Indiana residents vaccinated

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — State health officials are still encouraging people to receive swine flu shots as fewer than 11 percent of Indiana residents have been vaccinated.

Of the 1.3 million doses of vaccine given in Indiana since October, more than half were given to children and young adults.

Assistant health commissioner James Howell says those in high-risk groups still should get vaccinated as the shots will build some immunity for next year, when the virus is expected to re-emerge.

Howell said Indiana's response to swine flu was better than many other states.

The state Health Department reports 39 swine flu-related deaths in Indiana since June, but none since mid-February.