Quinn to declare public health emergency in Peoria

PEORIA -- Gov. Pat Quinn plans to declare a public health emergency in Peoria next week to provide more resources for a public health response to the swine flu virus.

Administrator Greg Chance of the Peoria City/County Health Department says the declaration will allow his agency and others to respond to the viral threat through federal funding.

Chance explained that the declaration does not necessarily indicate extreme measures are needed, but it will provide necessary tools for the challenge of mass vaccination programs.

Chance said his department is expecting the vaccine in mid October, though how much is not yet known. He said it now appears the vaccine can be administered in one dose instead of two over a period of weeks as previously thought.