U.P. In Line for Swine Flu Prevention Money

A good-sized chunk of change is heading to Michigan to help combat swine and seasonal flu.

And the U.P. should notice some benefits.

Last month, President Obama signed an appropriations bill that’ll send about $300 million around the country.

It’s for hospital preparedness and public health emergency response.

About $11.5 million will come to Michigan.

That adds up to anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 for every local health department in the U.P.

George Sedlacek of the Marquette County Health Department says the various agencies want to use the money to conduct more public vaccination clinics.

He also says they all know they’ll need help from private physicians and pharmacists to help maximize the value of those grants.

If you want to know more about the flu money, and what you can do to prevent the H1N1 virus from spreading, you can go on the Web to www.flu.gov .