A lot of people apparently used their Columbus Day holiday to go to a doctor. The flu, and the fear of it, sent patients to a pediatrician's office in Lackawanna County.
It was no holiday at Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania. There was a flu clinic Monday at the office on Viewmont Drive in Dickson City.
Parents brought their children there all day to get them vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
Four-year-old Andrew, and seven-year-old Olivia Smith felt the stick of the needle. There was fear before, and smiles after and relief from their mother.
"We get them vaccinated for the flu every year. Why not? If it helps prevent even one instance of the flu for us over the winter, it's fantastic," said Debra Smith.
The Smiths are not alone.
Doctor Tim Welby said a lot of people have been coming through the doors of the practice. Some to get vaccinated, many because they already have the flu and it's not the seasonal flu. It's the H1N1 virus, or the swine flu.
"Seasonal flu hasn't hit northeastern Pennsylvania yet. If you get flu- like illnesses now and you test positive for flu, it's overwhelmingly likely that the H1N1 or swine flu is what you have," explained Dr. Welby.
The swine flu can be treated, but it can't be prevented right now. The vaccine to guard against it hasn't become widely available in our area. That will happen, in some form, in the weeks to come.
Not everyone was at the doctor's office for a flu shot. Antoinette Lopatka brought her son for a check up. She's not a flu shot believer.
"I've never gotten it for him. He's always been very healthy, so I don't plan on getting it this year either," said Lopatka.
She is not worried and neither is her son. Lopatka said he's had perfect school attendance the last couple years and she doesn't fear that's going to change, in spite of two flu strains out there, the seasonal flu, and the swine flu.
It was no holiday at Pediatrics of Northeastern Pennsylvania. There was a flu clinic Monday at the office on Viewmont Drive in Dickson City.
Parents brought their children there all day to get them vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
Four-year-old Andrew, and seven-year-old Olivia Smith felt the stick of the needle. There was fear before, and smiles after and relief from their mother.
"We get them vaccinated for the flu every year. Why not? If it helps prevent even one instance of the flu for us over the winter, it's fantastic," said Debra Smith.
The Smiths are not alone.
Doctor Tim Welby said a lot of people have been coming through the doors of the practice. Some to get vaccinated, many because they already have the flu and it's not the seasonal flu. It's the H1N1 virus, or the swine flu.
"Seasonal flu hasn't hit northeastern Pennsylvania yet. If you get flu- like illnesses now and you test positive for flu, it's overwhelmingly likely that the H1N1 or swine flu is what you have," explained Dr. Welby.
The swine flu can be treated, but it can't be prevented right now. The vaccine to guard against it hasn't become widely available in our area. That will happen, in some form, in the weeks to come.
Not everyone was at the doctor's office for a flu shot. Antoinette Lopatka brought her son for a check up. She's not a flu shot believer.
"I've never gotten it for him. He's always been very healthy, so I don't plan on getting it this year either," said Lopatka.
She is not worried and neither is her son. Lopatka said he's had perfect school attendance the last couple years and she doesn't fear that's going to change, in spite of two flu strains out there, the seasonal flu, and the swine flu.
