TRAVERSE CITY -- Joan Sleder's doctor advised her to be vaccinated months ago, when a swine flu outbreak closed school districts across the region.
She volunteers at Eastern Elementary in Traverse City, which was among the local flu closures. Still, she waited.
"I had thought about it," said Sleder, who received a shot this week at the city's senior center. Now, "We were thinking just in case."
Swine flu vaccine clinics haven't ended, although illness reports peaked last fall. Health professionals aren't sure whether another wave will sweep through this spring, but haven't ruled out the possibility.
Local health departments now are setting up at senior centers, adult foster care homes, stores and libraries.
The Grand Traverse County Health Department rented a space at the Grand Traverse Mall and soon will offer H1N1 and other immunizations there. The first clinic is planned for March 26.
Clinics there were well-attended last fall, Director Fred Keeslar said. His department received $100,000 in federal funds to continue the program, which will cover the $900 monthly rent.
"Some of the clinics we've had fairly poor showings, and some of them we've had very good showings," Keeslar said. "There's still some interest."
About 1.5 million people have been vaccinated in Michigan, said James McCurtis, a spokesman for the state Department of Community Health.
The number of reported flu-like illness cases statewide dropped from 9,978 the week of Feb. 28 to 7,941 last week, state records show. In Grand Traverse County, the figure fell from 171 to 108 last week.
That's down significantly from the week of Oct. 18, when more than 62,000 cases were reported in Michigan.
"It's hard to say" if swine flu will resurface, McCurtis said. "We want people to be prepared if it does happen."
The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department is reverting to an appointment-based vaccine schedule, in part because attendance had declined at weekly clinics, Health Officer Bill Crawford said.
February numbers "got down to almost single digits," he said. "I think most of the people who wanted to get it have gotten it."
Patient counts also have fallen for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, which includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, spokeswoman Jane Sundmacher said.
If you go
The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department will hold two upcoming H1N1 vaccine clinics. Dates are March 30 at the Leelanau County office, 7401 E. Duck Lake Road in Lake Leelanau, and March 31 at the Benzie County office, 6051 Frankfort Highway in Benzonia. Times are 2-4:30 p.m. for both clinics.
The Grand Traverse County Health Department and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan -- which includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties -- also scheduled upcoming clinics. Information is available on their Web sites. Visit http://www.co.grand-traverse.mi.us/departments/health.htm and http://www.nwhealth.org/.
