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Pinellas sees 11th H1N1-related death

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By JEFF PATTERSON

jpatterson@wfla

Published: November 14, 2009

Pinellas County health officials are reporting the 11th death associated with swine flu - a 38-year-old woman with underlying health conditions.

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 spokeswoman Maggie Hall.
Pinellas County has suspended administering the H1N1 vaccine 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," Hall said. "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.

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

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