The Centers for Disease Control drastically increased their estimate of how many people have died from swine flu across the country. It's now thought that 4,000 Americans have died due to the virus or complications brought on by it. That makes the estimate about four times what they originally thought. But Bakersfield health officials caution people not to panic.
After the CDC released a statement that thousands more have likely died from the swine flu, hundreds lined up in Lamont to get vaccinated Thursday. Some came from hours away for the shot. "We're coming from Cuyama, we haven't been able to get any vaccines in Santa Barabra County," said Bonnie Hibbert. It was a cool and cloudy day, but that didn't deter people from arriving hours ahead of time to wait in line; some getting to the clinic as many as seven hours early. "For my kid's sake its worth it. I believe it is. I don't care how long it takes it's worth it for me," said Lamont mother Deva Anaya.
Kern County Public Health Officer, Dr. Claudia Jonah, says she's pleased to see so many people at the clinics, because it's worth protecting yourself against this serious virus. But Jonah says the CDC's new estimate of fatalities not surprising. "We are looking more closely at this H1N1 because it is a new virus. It would not at all be surprising to find out that whatever numbers we do have under represent what the true total is and who knows what the true total is," said Dr. Jonah.
Health officials and the public seem to agree, it's the unknown and the shortage of vaccinations, making this virus so alarming. "Nobody really knows how bad it's going to be," said Lamont resident Guadalupe Marquez. "Yeah a little bit of panic a little bit of hype, but I really do believe it's going to get easier as there's more vaccine available," said public health nurse Jane Yadon.
They vaccinated 400 people at the clinic held at the Boys and Girls Club in Lamont Thursday.
