Most of the talk was about the H1N1 flu strain as the Ripley County Pandemic Preparedness Coordinating Committee went over an all hazards public health emergency response plan Sept. 9 at the Batesville fire station.

“We know it's active in the county,” said Ripley County public health coordinator Pat Thomas. Persons with flulike symptoms should assume they’ve got H1N1, she added. A new guideline says a 100-degree fever could indicate that new influenza strain, which is different from the seasonal flu.

The Indiana State Department of Health has quit its count of cases after it rose over 300. “They're just overloaded with testing,” according to Thomas.

ISDH officials told the local coordinator to expect H1N1 vaccines in mid- to late October.

They will be given to priority groups first: persons between 6 months and 24 years; persons who live with or care for children younger than 6 months (the shot is not recommended for infants under that age); pregnant women; persons 25-64 who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems; and health care and emergency medical services personnel.

At first Thomas was told the county initially would receive 14,000 doses, enough to vaccinate students at all public and private schools, even Batesville public schools that are located in Franklin County.

Yet Aug. 31 she was notified 5,000 vaccines would be arriving, followed by 1,000 to 2,000 trickling in weekly. The county has about 28,000 residents.

Its public school superintendents have been meeting weekly about the issue, prioritizing which students will get the first shots and deciding how to vaccinate larger groups. The coordinator wants to give the shots evenly throughout the county, perhaps a grade or two at a time, but the process hasn’t been nailed down.

“The schools have been really great working with us, suggesting their own plans. It's been pretty awesome.” Parents will have to sign consent forms before their children receive the shots.

“We've got the schools under control, we think,” she reported. “Now we’re working on how to get to day care centers.”

Health department employees will provide vaccines to private physicians to give to pregnant women. Batesville Kroger pharmacists called Thomas to volunteer. “The other pharmacies are willing to work with us, too,” so some pharmacists also may be inoculating.

If eventually there are enough vaccines to give to citizens not in the priority groups, Thomas is hopeful the county will be allowed to host drive-thru clinics at five public sites. She said leaders at ISDH and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, are discouraging mass vaccination clinics, because “they don't want people exposing other people,” but getting shots while sitting in vehicles seems less risky than standing in long lines.

The coordinator’s immediate goal is to keep residents aware of latest guidelines to curb the spread of the illness. Brochures and training CDs can be found at medical providers, schools and libraries. A public service message can be viewed at the Gibson Theatre. She has been meeting with school nurses and talking to the media.

The plan is based on all volunteers and so far Thomas called the response "outstanding. Each community is willing and eager to provide for their own.”

Volunteers are required to take the National Incident Management System IS700a course either online or live and pass a test. Margaret Mary Community Hospital is offering a class Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 9 a.m., safety director Char Roberts said.

Thomas predicted more volunteers, especially those who can give shots, will be needed. They must be NIMS-qualified and on her roster or county liability insurance will not cover them. She urged the 20 attendees to pass out volunteer brochures. If H1N1 “changes its mind and starts to get nasty (by mutating to a more lethal form) on us, some of our volunteers might be sick.”

Those willing to help out can reach Thomas at 812-689-5751.

MMCH community health improvement manager Geralyn Litzinger asked if persons still need the vaccine if they already were exposed to H1N1. “I've been told to vaccinate” was the coordinator’s answer. The flu strain is changing, so an immunization still is needed, explained Susan Gross, ISDH Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response Division District 9 planning coordinator.

Thomas is encouraging everybody to get seasonal flu shots, either at county health departments, MMCH flu shot clinics or stores. “This will not prevent H1N1, but will help you keep healthy to fight off H1N1.”

About 36,000 people die each year in the United States due to seasonal flu-related illnesses.

The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over 6 months, ISDH officials said. Receipt of this vaccine is particularly important for young children, individuals with chronic diseases or compromised immune systems and persons over 65.

Residents seem to agree with Thomas’ advice. Last year 1,300 received seasonal flu shots at a drive-thru session at the Batesville firehouse. On Sept. 3 that number increased to 1,500 in three and a half hours, Litzinger reported.

Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com. To comment on stories, visit batesvilleheraldtribune.com.