Volunteers field flood of calls concerning vaccine, closed schools
NEGAUNEE -- It's closed schools, driven up hand sanitizer use, and prompted some U.P. hospitals to put visitor restrictions in place.
The Marquette County Emergency Operations Center opened an H1N1 hotline at the State Police Post in Negaunee. Volunteers came in to help handle the flood of calls the County Health Department was getting related to the swine flu.
"They've heard of schools being closed," said Community Health Division, Director George Sedlcek, "and they wanted to know if they should send kids to school. So, we thought it wise to have the 800 number or the local number."
Most callers wanted to know where they could get the H1N1 vaccine.
Health department officials say they've also been encouraging people to get the tool kit from the website, to help them decide if they need to go to the doctor.
"So far the vast majority of people can stay home and get well, right at home," Sedlcek said. "They don' t need to see a doctor."
The hotline will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Monday and Tuesday.
The numbers are (906) 475-1176, (906) 475-1175, or toll free at (888) 363-9708.
H1N1 is also affecting the daily operations at the Marquette County Jail. They've created a confinement area in the event that one of their 80 inmates gets the swine flu.
"We've increased the number of masks available," said Health Professionals Limited, R.N., James Gawne. "Anybody that would be moved from a contaminated area would wear a mask."
And the jail nurse, contracted through Health Professionals Limited, will also administer the H1N1 vaccine to priority groups, including a pregnant female and inmates under 25 years old, when more becomes available to the health department.
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