The Orange County Healthcare Agency reported 1 more H1N1 death in the county, but statewide, the weekly death rate hit a record. As deaths were increasing, new hospitalizations were declining. For the last weekly report, the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, reported 405 new hospitalizations. This brought the total pandemic hospitalizations in California to 6,474.

H1N1 statewide deaths for the most recent week (ending 11/21/09) hit 36, the highest weekly death rate since CDPH began weekly reporting on the pandemic. In our weekly update of November 17 (see related articles below), we quoted CDPH Director Dr. Mark Horton as indicating more deaths are expected because of the lag between hospitalizations and deaths.

With the rate of new hospitalizations falling and the death rate increasing, that expectation appears to be well founded. The statewide rate of new hospitalizations for the most recent week is the lowest since October 15. At the same time, the weekly death rate is the highest.

In Orange County, deaths from the pandemic now total 36. This is an increase of 12 in about a month. Orange County ICU hospitalizations for swine flu increased by 26 in each of the last two weeks and now total 179.

More shipments of the H1N1 vaccination are arriving in OC. The Orange County Health Care Agency, HCA, reports “There have been significant increases in vaccine availability in the last two weeks. Over 500,000 doses have been directed to providers in Orange County and an additional 434,000 doses are anticipated by early January.”

HCA is now expanding their pregnant women only vaccination clinic to include all people in the so called target groups. Those groups are as follows:
*Pregnant women.
*Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged less than 6 months.
*Health-care and emergency medical services personnel.
*Persons aged 6 months through 24 years.
*Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

As of our deadline yesterday, HCA posted the following on their web site:
HCA has expanded the appointment only clinic at its 17th Street facility in Santa Ana to include Orange County residents in all five target groups who do not have access to H1N1 vaccinations through their medical providers. (This includes second vaccinations for children aged six months through nine years of age.) Vaccinations are free. To schedule an appointment: Call the Health Referral line at 1-800-564-8448, Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. H1N1 Vaccination Clinic hours:
Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed for lunch 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. daily

Click here to go to the HCA web site.

Another way to find the H1N1 vaccine is through Google. They have a zip code based locator; click here to go to the page.