JO DAVIESS COUNTY, Illinois -
When it comes to the H1N1 flu vaccine, supply and demand just aren't matching up. Local counties that desperately want the vaccine can't get it while some others can't give it away, at least not yet. Many counties are rushing to vaccinate those at most risk, but in our northernmost Illinois County, Jo Daviess, the laid back, rural, lifestyle is creating a unique challenge during this modern day medical emergency. News 8's Chris Williams takes you there to show why.
"Jo Daviess County is a small, rural, community. Not a lot of public transit, a kind of laid back community. Don't have a lot of industry besides tourism", explained Peggy Murphy.
Even the county's largest town, Galena, seems stuck in a time-warp, just ask the folks who flock here for the charm. County Health Department Administrator Peggy Murphy is a hometown girl.
"It's a safe community to live in and a beautiful community to live in. I'm fortunate to live here", she said.
What's refrigerated in her office, she says, is a fortunate sight for those who call the county home. The boxes may look small but inside are 2,500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine. Despite the phones ringing off the hook, some of these shots have been sitting here since last week. Many health departments in our area are rushing to get the H1N1 vaccine to the public but in this county it's going to take a little more time.
Peggy told us, "Because we only have weekly papers it takes time to get that in the media to let people know when the clinics are going to be held."
With limited internet access in the rural areas the health department is also turning to divine intervention advertising the old fashioned way in church bulletins. Schools have sent home information and a senior citizen newsletter helped too.
I asked Peggy, " so there's still a place in the world where things don't happen very fast? It takes time to get the word out?"
She answered, "It takes time but that's important because that gives you more time to do the appropriate education that needs to be done and sometimes there's a benefit to that".
"Is there a concern about the delay, as far as it does take more time that's more of a chance for people to come down with H1N1", I asked.
"I think that chance is there all of the time", she replied, "so we've been trying to be proactive in educating the people about it and the precautionary steps they need to take, the proactive measures you need to take to prevent that from happening."
With the legwork done now they'll begin rolling out the first vaccines Thursday to those at most risk. Check out the link on this page to learn more about their schedule. Murphy says it may take two months to inoculate all of those who need it the most.
"Jo Daviess County is a small, rural, community. Not a lot of public transit, a kind of laid back community. Don't have a lot of industry besides tourism", explained Peggy Murphy.
Even the county's largest town, Galena, seems stuck in a time-warp, just ask the folks who flock here for the charm. County Health Department Administrator Peggy Murphy is a hometown girl.
"It's a safe community to live in and a beautiful community to live in. I'm fortunate to live here", she said.
What's refrigerated in her office, she says, is a fortunate sight for those who call the county home. The boxes may look small but inside are 2,500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine. Despite the phones ringing off the hook, some of these shots have been sitting here since last week. Many health departments in our area are rushing to get the H1N1 vaccine to the public but in this county it's going to take a little more time.
Peggy told us, "Because we only have weekly papers it takes time to get that in the media to let people know when the clinics are going to be held."
With limited internet access in the rural areas the health department is also turning to divine intervention advertising the old fashioned way in church bulletins. Schools have sent home information and a senior citizen newsletter helped too.
I asked Peggy, " so there's still a place in the world where things don't happen very fast? It takes time to get the word out?"
She answered, "It takes time but that's important because that gives you more time to do the appropriate education that needs to be done and sometimes there's a benefit to that".
"Is there a concern about the delay, as far as it does take more time that's more of a chance for people to come down with H1N1", I asked.
"I think that chance is there all of the time", she replied, "so we've been trying to be proactive in educating the people about it and the precautionary steps they need to take, the proactive measures you need to take to prevent that from happening."
With the legwork done now they'll begin rolling out the first vaccines Thursday to those at most risk. Check out the link on this page to learn more about their schedule. Murphy says it may take two months to inoculate all of those who need it the most.
