NORWICH – Officials from the Chenango County Health Department say they share in the frustration and concern the residents of the county are feeling towards the limited amounts of H1N1 vaccine that is being shipped to the states.

“Unfortunately with the way the H1N1 vaccine is being manufactured, it is difficult to predict when the vaccine will be ready to be shipped out to the states,” said Director of Patient Services Marianne Kirsch in a press release Monday. “We are asking for your patience. The health department will eventually be receiving larger amounts of vaccine that will enable us to get out and vaccine individuals that are in the initial target groups,” Kirsch said.

The Health Department shares in the fears that the residents are having wondering if that cough or fever their child has is really the H1N1 flu or just a cold, Kirsch said. Generally most of the H1N1 illness has been mild and recovery has occurred at home without treatment. The symptoms of the H1N1 flu are very similar to seasonal flu with:

• Fever greater than 100 degrees F,

• Cough,

• Sore throat,

• Body aches,