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Pinellas County reports 11th swine flu death

TBO.com

Published: November 13, 2009

Updated: 11/13/2009 04:31 pm

ST. PETERSBURG -
Pinellas County Health officials are reporting the 11th death associated with the H1N1 virus - a 38-year-old woman with underlying health conditions.

Meanwhile, county health officials say the vaccine program in the county is going slower than expected.

"We've been suffering from the same syndrome as the rest of the country and that's a widespread lag in vaccine production," said health department spokesperson Maggie Hall.

As a result of the lag in vaccine, Pinellas County has suspended administering the H1N1 to the general public.

"We're trying to do our target populations first and that's why there is such a big effort to do vaccines in the schools," said Hall. "Children are in our target groups as are pregnant women."

As of Nov. 3, state officials report there have been 149 deaths from H1N1 across Florida.

Hillsborough County is experiencing similar problems in obtaining the vaccine from the federal government.

"Quite honestly, we'd hoped and expected to be much further along in the process," said Hillsborough County health department spokesman Steve Huard.

Huard is urging county residents to be patient as they wait for the vaccine."As far as the vaccines and the shots, just hang on, the vaccine is coming," Huard said. "We expect to have it wildly available in Hillsborough County by mid-December."

News Channel 8 reporter Jeff Patterson can be reached at (813) 221-5703.

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