DANVILLE — Geisinger Medical Center on Friday confirmed its second patient death from swine flu within a week.
Hospital spokeswoman Marcy Marshall on Friday said that because of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines, the medical center could not provide additional information.
“The Geisinger family is saddened by this second loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to the patient’s family,” Marshall said in a statement. “This death underscores the seriousness of this pandemic.”
Dr. Lisa Esolen, director of infection control at Geisinger, said last week the medical center has received only a small fraction of the vaccines needed for patient and employee protection. She added that there are approximately 7,600 confirmed cases of swine flu in Pennsylvania, with a 4 percent rate of hospitalization.
The state Department of Health’s Web site containing county-by-county count of novel 2009 influenza A/H1N1 cases has not been updated in 36 days.
Valley residents who are most at-risk of serious complications from H1N1 can register to receive a vaccination next weekend in either Williamsport or State College.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday announced it will conduct statewide clinics from Friday to Nov. 22 to administer free H1N1 vaccine to those in the recommended target groups that have not had previous access to the vaccine.
Those in the priority group include those between the ages of 6 months and 24 years; household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months; pregnant women; health-care providers and emergency medical services personnel; and those under 65 years of age with underlying health conditions, including asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, and neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders.
Individuals in the recommended target groups must schedule an appointment time, day and location prior to the clinic in order to receive the H1N1 vaccine. This will help ensure that the correct type and amount of vaccine is available at each location.
“Our goal is to get the H1N1 vaccine to as many people as possible who are at risk of suffering serious complications from the virus,” said Michael Huff, deputy secretary of the state Department of Health. “These public health clinics will help us do just that with the amount of vaccine that is currently available to us.”
Valley counties are located in the state Department of Health’s Northcentral Community Health District.
Residents of Montour and Northumberland counties should attend Clinic No. 2 at the Northcentral District Office, 1000 Commerce Park Drive, Water Tower Square, Suite 109, Williamsport.
Residents of Snyder and Union counties should attend Clinic No. 3 at the Centre County State Health Center, 280 W. Hamilton Ave., State College.
Clinic hours Friday and Nov. 22 will be 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hours on Nov. 21 will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Appointments can be made at www.H1N1inPA.com under “What’s Hot,” 24 hours a day. Those without Internet access can call 1 (877) 724-3258 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Lines are limited.
Anyone seeking vaccination should download an H1N1 vaccine consent form from www.h1n1inPA.com. Consent forms must be completed for each individual that has scheduled to be vaccinated. Preparing this form in advance will help the clinics more quickly register and vaccinate people.
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