A former Marietta resident recently died from the H1N1 virus.
Health officials said the 38-year-old was pregnant.
Ashlee Scott of Williamstown, West Virginia died at a Columbus hospital on October 11th.
Officials said they were unable to save the soon-to-be mom and her baby. They also said
pregnant women make up one percent of the U.S. population, but account for 6 percent of reported
H1N1 deaths.
Getting the H1N1 vaccine is a struggle for health departments across Ohio. While many of the bigger cities got their initial doses of the vaccine weeks ago, that isn't necessarily the case for smaller and more rural communities.
On Thursday the Washington County Health Department administered it's first doses of the H1N1 vaccine. Dr. Kathleen Meckstroth, the Washington County Health Commissioner, said they received a small shipment a few weeks ago. EMS workers were given top priority.
"A hundred here, a hundred there, we're getting them in slowly," said Dr. Meckstroth.
Though the quantity of the H1N1 vaccine is relatively small, Dr. Meckstroth said she thinks the health department is getting its fair share compared to bigger cities. So far Meckstroth said there are six confirmed cases of H1N1 in Washington County. School districts are being affected the most.
Dr. Meckstroth is planning to get vaccines to hospitals and schools, as well as holding community clinics as more doses of the vaccine come to the health department. She said they are free of charge.
