Officials at the Kern County Department of Public Health fear people have become complacent about the risks of swine flu. Although the number of cases is on the decline, officials are still urging everyone to get vaccinated for the virus, especially those considered to be high risk.
"It's just really important to get out there and protect yourself from this flu," said Denise Smith with the health department, who has noticed fewer people are as concerned about swine flu than in months past.
Harvard researchers found about 55-percent of Americans have yet to receive the H-1-N-1 vaccine and only one out of five people in high risk groups have been vaccinated, according to the study.
Just two months ago, Bakersfield residents were willing to wait in line, some for hours on end when vaccines were first released.
But in recent weeks, a much different trend. Near empty swine flu vaccination clinics have popped up all over the county, according to health officials.
"It's just one of those things you don't think is going to happen to you," said Brian Olsen, who admits he's put getting the vaccine on the back burner. "We need to get it as a family, but haven't taken that initiative yet."
More than 100 million doses of the H-1-N-1 vaccine have been distributed through out the United States. Still, most everyone we talked today in Bakersfield say they will not get the vaccine, including Marcus Lee, who fears complications from the most recent does.
"Theres still a lot of people wanting to be vaccinated, but I don't," said Lee.
Health officials in Kern County say the vaccine is available to anyone who wants it and say in most cases the vaccine will cost you nothing. To find the nearest vaccination site, check the Department of Public Health website at
www.kernpublichealth.com.
Officials say the vaccine is readily available everywhere, including many doctors' offices.
