By the end of this week, the Centers for Disease Control says 35 states will open H1N1 vaccines to everyone. Tennessee was one of the first, opening doses to the general public last week.
The CDC is trying to strike a balance between blanketing the country with vaccinations and making sure everyone who is at high risk has access to a dose.
Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says even states that have opened vaccinations to all need to concentrate on the risk groups.
“We still need to make sure we try to target school age children, pregnant women and ethnic and racial minorities.”
Public health officials hope pushing the vaccines to everyone in the country will stave off a second wave of H1N1 flu.
When an entire family can get the vaccination, Tennessee Health Commissioner Susan Cooper says they’re more likely to show up at a clinic.
“Families that have not been vaccinated yet, they may have small children. They will come as a family as opposed to bringing just the child.”
While everyone can now receive the vaccine in Tennessee, Cooper says the state continues to target public service announcements to those most at risk.
The state has received more than 1.8-million doses of the H1N1 vaccine since it became available this fall.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM