CLEVELAND (AP) -- Only one in five Ohioans considered at highest risk for contracting swine flu got vaccines last year despite the state's public health campaign, a newspaper reported.
Only two in 10 pregnant women got the vaccine and just over a third of health care workers, according to state Department of Health data obtained by The Plain Dealer through a records request.
Only one in five children ages 5 to 18 with medical problems got the vaccine, and the number was even lower for children ages six months to 5 years, the data showed.
The Health Department said vaccination rates are better than they appear because providers are behind in their reporting.
"Our plan is to continue to stress the importance of reporting the information," said Amy Bashforth, Ohio Department of Health immunization program chief.
About four million doses of the vaccination were distributed in Ohio last year and the data showed fewer than one million administered through Dec. 30.
Free vaccinations by injection or a nasal spray have been available since October for those considered at high risk for swine flu.
"We've done everything we can to spread the word," said Terry Allan, Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner. "We spend a lot of time debunking the things that people are hearing. We weren't able to convince folks as much as we would like about safety."
State health officials said the flu -- including swine flu -- peaked in Ohio in mid-October and has continued to decline. But officials also say flu activity often ebbs and flows and could easily flare up again.
"In other pandemics, there have been more than two waves," said Dr. Lisa Klatka, medical epidemiologist for the Medina County Health Department.
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