Kzoo health dept flooded with flu calls

The Kalamazoo County Health Department has received so many phone calls to their swine flu clinic reservation line, that at one point, their phone system shut down. Everyone seems to want information on the vaccine.

"When we first opened this morning, apparently, 100 or more calls got into the queue and on hold and what that does is, it ties up all the circuits for the county phone system," said Lina Vail Buzas of the department. "So, people were unable to dial into the county phone system while all those people were on hold."

People with asthma are encouraged to receive the H1N1 and seasonal flu shots as soon as possible, state health officials said Monday.

There are 3,000 vaccines at the department. Michigan has received more than one million vaccines, officials told 24 Hour News 8.

The majority already have arrived.

The Kalamazoo County Health Department is taking appointment requests from Kalamazoo County residents only, and people in target groups, such as those who are pregnant, ages 6 months to 24 years and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

The death toll from H1N1-related complications stands at 34 statewide since April. That figure includes three children.