Garrison loses son-in-law to H1N1 flu

A well-known Indianapolis attorney and talk show host lost his son-in-law over the weekend to complications from the H1N1 virus. Greg Garrison said his son-in-law's struggle with the virus illustrates the struggle many are having with access to the H1N1 vaccine.

Health officials in Indiana had hoped to have more H1N1 vaccine on hand by now. That vaccine certainly could have saved the life of 37-year-old Pete Barajas.

"He was highly sought after for his expertise, and a friend to everybody," Garrison said of his son-in-law. "Just a giant of a kid."

WIBC's Garrison said Barajas battled H1N1 for a month. Just last week, Barajas seemed to be recovering.

"A week ago today, he was sitting up in his bed, focusing, answering questions, lifting his legs off the bed," Garrison said. "And then we got a blood clot situation and that's just because he spent so long down."

Barajas died at Community Hospital North over the weekend.

Garrison said Barajas had bronchial problems when he was a child. He said after Barajas became sick, his pregnant wife struggled to find the vaccine for herself.

"My daughter had been exposed. We knew her husband was in critical condition with the bug. She's eight months pregnant and we can't find a shot for her and we cast about until we finally found one and she got it," he said.

Garrison said it took a week to find a shot.

Health officials still don't have nearly as much vaccine as they need. They ran out of the flu mist in some Marion County schools last week.

They want to vaccinate as many people as they can and prevent more losses like that of Pete Barajas.

"It just got him," Garrison said. "It was too much for him."

Barajas leaves behind his wife, who is expecting a baby next month, and their two young children.

Dr. Joan Duwve, medical director for public health and preparedness for the state of Indiana, said, “We have a long way to go before we even get priority groups immunized.”

The director of the Marion County Health Department, Dr. Virginia Caine, said she hopes the county will start being able to get vaccine out in much greater numbers by January.

Six Hoosiers died from H1N1 during the week of November 8.

The virus has claimed 30 Hoosiers since the beginning of June.