Geisinger Health System's Kistler Clinic in Wilkes-Barre is among the health care providers that have received the H1N1, or swine flu, vaccine.
Right now it's going to children who fall into a certain age category.
The Radici boys were with dad Tuesday, getting their vaccinations.
"I'm washing my hands more, trying to keep them sanitized and just generally trying to keep the house clean. Little steps like that to make sure everybody stays healthy," said Jim Radici.
Tuesday was the first day Geisinger has the swine flu vaccine to offer. Officials there were given 300 doses, enough for 150 children, in the target age range of five to nine.
"Right now we're battling two diseases. We're battling swine flu and we're battling mass hysteria," said Peggy Lovecchio of Geisinger. She expects the flood gates to open, now that people are aware that Geisinger has the vaccine.
She pointed out they are expecting to get more in the future and will put a child on a wait list if necessary.
"Pediatric urgent care is booked every morning by 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., booked solid by people who want to get their kids checked," Lovecchio added.
"We've seen a tremendous increase in the number of children with flu-like symptoms. Some have been tested and it's positive for H1N1. Others have been treated symptomatically, basically," said Dr. Gary Lawrence.
He expects to be very busy in the coming days and pointed out he has no concern about the safety of the vaccine itself.
"It's a vaccine that's being produced in the way that every other vaccine has been done for years. And every year, every flu vaccine is a new vaccine with new virus. So H1N1 is just a new batch of virus in another flu vaccine," Lawrence explained.
Appointments for truly sick children are being jammed up by children who aren't as ill so Geisinger suggests if your child has flu-like symptoms, it's best, simply, to treat those symptoms with rest, fluids and pain mediciation and keep the child home.
If, though, your child is having trouble breathing or has a fever of 100 degrees or more you should seek medical help.
Right now it's going to children who fall into a certain age category.
The Radici boys were with dad Tuesday, getting their vaccinations.
"I'm washing my hands more, trying to keep them sanitized and just generally trying to keep the house clean. Little steps like that to make sure everybody stays healthy," said Jim Radici.
Tuesday was the first day Geisinger has the swine flu vaccine to offer. Officials there were given 300 doses, enough for 150 children, in the target age range of five to nine.
"Right now we're battling two diseases. We're battling swine flu and we're battling mass hysteria," said Peggy Lovecchio of Geisinger. She expects the flood gates to open, now that people are aware that Geisinger has the vaccine.
She pointed out they are expecting to get more in the future and will put a child on a wait list if necessary.
"Pediatric urgent care is booked every morning by 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., booked solid by people who want to get their kids checked," Lovecchio added.
"We've seen a tremendous increase in the number of children with flu-like symptoms. Some have been tested and it's positive for H1N1. Others have been treated symptomatically, basically," said Dr. Gary Lawrence.
He expects to be very busy in the coming days and pointed out he has no concern about the safety of the vaccine itself.
"It's a vaccine that's being produced in the way that every other vaccine has been done for years. And every year, every flu vaccine is a new vaccine with new virus. So H1N1 is just a new batch of virus in another flu vaccine," Lawrence explained.
Appointments for truly sick children are being jammed up by children who aren't as ill so Geisinger suggests if your child has flu-like symptoms, it's best, simply, to treat those symptoms with rest, fluids and pain mediciation and keep the child home.
If, though, your child is having trouble breathing or has a fever of 100 degrees or more you should seek medical help.
