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Nicholas Kerler, 11, receives the swine flu vaccination at Scotten Elementary School in Grass Valley on Tuesday. County Health Department nurse Lynn Schweissinger administers the dose.
Hundreds of parents, with children and strollers in hand, lined up in front of Scotten Elementary School Tuesday afternoon while police directed traffic for the county's first public clinic to receive vaccines for swine flu.
With cases of H1N1 influenza mounting across the county, neighboring Yuba County saw its first deaths from the illness. Both victims were young — 32 and 47 — and one also suffered from asthma.
Despite the high turnout expected for school clinics scheduled over the next two weeks in Nevada County, the county Health Department has enough vaccine to cover all the children who come, Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Milman said.
Parents who have contracted the flu themselves, or know others who had, were anxious to get their youngsters vaccinated.
“I don't care if it's like a concert and we're waiting until tomorrow. We're going to get it,” said Grass Valley resident Kim Campbell, 53, who was near the back of the line with her 3-year-old granddaughter and 17-month-old grandson.
Campbell was bedridden earlier this fall with what she thinks was swine flu, she said.
“I don't think it's anything to play with,” Campbell said.
Tuesday's clinic was the first of a series limited to children ages 6 months old through eighth grade, one of the groups at greatest risk of serious illness or death from the virus.
When more supplies arrive, additional clinics will be held to include expanding segments of the population. The next shipment is expected in late November, county health officials said.
Chris Lewis' wife came down with flu-like symptoms Tuesday morning and enlisted him to take their 5-year-old daughter to the Scotten clinic.
“Why not take these modern conveniences, when it can help them from getting something potentially bad?” Lewis asked.
In Yuba County, two Olivehurst residents died in the past week of complications from the virus.
Isela J. Morales, 47, died Friday and Johnny Duerksen Sr., 32, died Thursday, the Marysville Appeal-Democrat reported.
Both people had fallen ill weeks earlier but weren't diagnosed with the virus until they were admitted to a hospital.
Duerksen, a painter, was married and had six children.
Morales, a homemaker, first was diagnosed with pneumonia before swine flu was confirmed.
Daughter Isela M. Morales, 28, said she believes her mother's asthma contributed to her illness.
“It was the asthma. She had a lot of scar tissue in her lungs,” the younger Morales said. “But before, she'd always get sick, and then she'd get better.”
Survivors in both families said their loved ones' death has compelled them to tell people to get checked by a doctor immediately if they become ill.
“It's not a joke at all,” said Johnny Duerksen's wife, Kelie Duerksen.
Ben van der Meer of the Appeal-Democrat in Marysville contributed to this report. To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
With cases of H1N1 influenza mounting across the county, neighboring Yuba County saw its first deaths from the illness. Both victims were young — 32 and 47 — and one also suffered from asthma.
Despite the high turnout expected for school clinics scheduled over the next two weeks in Nevada County, the county Health Department has enough vaccine to cover all the children who come, Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Milman said.
Parents who have contracted the flu themselves, or know others who had, were anxious to get their youngsters vaccinated.
“I don't care if it's like a concert and we're waiting until tomorrow. We're going to get it,” said Grass Valley resident Kim Campbell, 53, who was near the back of the line with her 3-year-old granddaughter and 17-month-old grandson.
Campbell was bedridden earlier this fall with what she thinks was swine flu, she said.
“I don't think it's anything to play with,” Campbell said.
Tuesday's clinic was the first of a series limited to children ages 6 months old through eighth grade, one of the groups at greatest risk of serious illness or death from the virus.
When more supplies arrive, additional clinics will be held to include expanding segments of the population. The next shipment is expected in late November, county health officials said.
Chris Lewis' wife came down with flu-like symptoms Tuesday morning and enlisted him to take their 5-year-old daughter to the Scotten clinic.
“Why not take these modern conveniences, when it can help them from getting something potentially bad?” Lewis asked.
In Yuba County, two Olivehurst residents died in the past week of complications from the virus.
Isela J. Morales, 47, died Friday and Johnny Duerksen Sr., 32, died Thursday, the Marysville Appeal-Democrat reported.
Both people had fallen ill weeks earlier but weren't diagnosed with the virus until they were admitted to a hospital.
Duerksen, a painter, was married and had six children.
Morales, a homemaker, first was diagnosed with pneumonia before swine flu was confirmed.
Daughter Isela M. Morales, 28, said she believes her mother's asthma contributed to her illness.
“It was the asthma. She had a lot of scar tissue in her lungs,” the younger Morales said. “But before, she'd always get sick, and then she'd get better.”
Survivors in both families said their loved ones' death has compelled them to tell people to get checked by a doctor immediately if they become ill.
“It's not a joke at all,” said Johnny Duerksen's wife, Kelie Duerksen.
Ben van der Meer of the Appeal-Democrat in Marysville contributed to this report. To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
