Two more die of flu in South Dakota, as vaccine supply dwindles - KOTA Territory News

Two more die of flu in South Dakota, as vaccine supply dwindles

Influenza continues to claim more lives across the nation, and in South Dakota.

Statistics from the South Dakota Department of Health show two more people have died from the virus in the past week, one in Pennington county.
That brings the  state total to eleven deaths.

At medical clinics in Rapid City, the demand for vaccinations is so high, many facilities are running low and awaiting new shipments of the vaccine.

At Rapid Care Clinic, 2,000 vaccines have been administered since October. To date, 188 people have been hospitalized state wide,  including children a few in Pennington county.

"We probably have two or three over at the hospital now with it. Once it starts and a young child gets it, there's going to be several in the hospital at any particular time recovering from influenza," said Dr. Donald Oliver, with Black Hills Pediatrics. Oliver says he treats dozens of cases a day. 

"The vaccine is 55% effective. People are still getting the flu, but they're getting  less symptoms and they're getting over it quicker," said Dr. Robert Preston, with the Rapid Care Clinic.  

If you do have flu symptoms, doctors advise seeking medical attention immediately, but some medications like Tamiflu generally aren't administered within the first 24 hours of flu symptoms.