The H1N1 swine vaccine is coming soon to South Lake Tahoe, according to Darcie Carpenter, Director of Emergency Management and Infection Control at Barton Health. Carpenter. “It will be coming from El Dorado County Public Health who is still awaiting their shipment from the state,” Carpenter said.

The H1N1 vaccine will come in assorted batches, so Barton Health will be targeting specific high risk individuals with the first shipment.

“More information will be available as soon as the vaccine arrives and as we confirm dates, locations and specific groups who will be able to get the H1N1 swine flu vaccine,” she said.

While the majority of H1N1 swine flu cases are mild, rare cases can be severe or fatal. In severe or fatal cases, H1N1 flu symptoms that patients had who were hospitalized between April and June 2009, included fever (95 percent) and cough (88 percent.)

Check www.bartonhealth.org/flu for flu updates.

Seasonal flu update

Seasonal flu vaccine supplies are low on the South Shore. Barton Health still has one Flu Clinic date remaining on Nov. 14 at Barton Memorial Hospital Mountain Café from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is available to everyone, while supplies last.

The Nov. 6, Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 seasonal flu clinics have been canceled.

“The real good news seems to be that locals have been getting their seasonal flu shots earlier this year,” said Carpenter.