Otero County child dies from H1N1 flu

SANTA FE (KRQE) - A 3-year-old Otero County boy who died in mid-January was a victim of complications related to the H1N1 flu virus, the New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed.

The child already had what the DOH characterized as "high-risk chronic conditions" that made him more vulnerable to complications from an illness.

The boy was the first child to die from H1N1 in New Mexico since mid-November, according to the DOH.

The DOH also reminded parents that children younger than 10 need two doses of H1N1 vaccine to be fully protected from the disease. Doses should be given four weeks apart.

H1N1 vaccine clinics are being held across the state.

In Otero County, the Public Health Office is providing H1N1 vaccinations for walk-ins from 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Vaccines have been provided through the Alamogordo schools and will be provided at the Tularosa schools on Thursday and Friday.

In Lincoln County, the Public Health Office is providing H1N1 vaccinations from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Additional clinics can be found on the DOH Web site .