After North Dakota's first H1N1 death, families line up to get vaccinated

(WDAY TV) - North Dakota has its first swine flu death. Health officials say the victim was older than 60, and the man had underlying medical conditions. He's from the northwestern part of the state; they are not releasing his name.

The state has more than 12-hundred confirmed flu cases; more than 90-percent are H1-N1, or swine flu. Just how concerned are families about swine flu? We got the answer in Fergus Falls late this afternoon. Today, families with young children scrambled at the chance to receive the vaccine.

Over the weekend Otter Tail County received 500 doses of the vaccine; Half for Fergus Falls, half for New York Mills. Public health never expected this kind of response.

Two hours before the vaccine clinic was to open, families began lining up. Dozens of children and their parents are hoping to get the nasal mist vaccine before the supply ran out.

“Some people say no way, I will never vaccinate my child and others can't wait they want to be on a list.”

“As a parent; and also, I come in contact with folks who are at risk so I don’t want to be transmitting.”

Pastor Brad Skogen, a Hospital Chaplain, brought in his 4-year old daughter.

Some toddlers were reluctant to take the mist despite the lack of a needle. Parents like Kim Guck know the vaccine will give families like hers peace of mind.

The big question, when more vaccine will become available. All public health departments are mindful the demand will grow for vaccine will production keep up.

A shipment of the H1-N1 vaccine in Becker County is going to its smallest residents if they get permission from their parents.

Consent forms went home with kindergartners and first graders Friday. A few different teachers said they received a handful back today. The Becker County public health department says on Wednesday, the two youngest grades in Detroit Lakes, Frazee-Vergas and Lake Park-Audubon can get the vaccine in the form of a nasal spray. Detroit Lakes are telling all families about the process.

“This should be on their radar because as shipments are now coming in on a regular basis we think, then other grade levels will be receiving information of that sort as well.”

The public health department will also hold a public clinic for kids ages 2 to 5 Thursday evening. For both groups, it will be first come, first serve.

Directors from the Cass and Clay County Public Health departments now say only priority groups will be eligible for the H1-N1 vaccine. A limited number of the vaccine will be coming in this week, and then distributed at H1N1 flu clinics.

This week, Cass County will be receiving 15 hundred doses of the vaccine. Those will be for children between six months and nine years old. Clay County will get between one thousand and 15 hundred doses of the flu mist, which is targeted for people two to 49 years old.

Both counties say more vaccine will be coming in each week for the next six to eight

“The important message is that vaccine is not going to be available for everybody who wants it, this week, next week, even next month. So we're focusing on the priority populations now.”

A clinic in Clay County is set for Thursday night at MSUM's Nemzek Hall from five to seven. Cass County will hold one at Fargo North High School on Saturday from nine to three.