Erie Family Health Center

For many, it feels like the flu has gone away. Away from the headlines on TV, the web, radio.  Away from the ERs and health clinics.  After H1N1 influenza ravished an unprepared America in the late spring 2009, and again in the fall and early winter, it has basically disappeared.  But should we let down our guard and stop worrying?

It’s true that most areas of the country are reporting either no or only sporadic (Illinois) flu activity. The most activity is in the South and in Maine.  All of it is well below epidemic levels and it’s all H1N1, not other strains of flu virus that we sometimes call the “seasonal flu.”

Despite the media’s doomsday reporting around H1N1, it caused relatively mild illness for most people.  Although this mild-mannered virus caused the deaths of thousands, which is significant, it could have been much worse.  The pandemic H1N1 of 1918 killed almost 500,000 in the US and at least 50 million world-wide.  This past year saw a much more tame H1N1 statistics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “from August 30, 2009 to March 6, 2010, 2,042 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths were reported to CDC,” including 277 children. Estimates say that up to 14,000 actually died since not all patients had lab confirmed tests.   By contrast, the seasonal flu normally kills some 36,000 Americans annually. 

Even though the impact of H1N1 could have been much worse, we still need to be prepared. H1N1 could come back, either soon, or next flu season. Young adults, children, pregnant women, as well as those with chronic illnesses are at a higher risk for more severe flu symptoms.

That’s why the expert panel that makes recommendations to the CDC has decided to include the H1N1 virus in next year’s seasonal flu vaccine.  This year, we all faced the task of receiving two vaccinations: H1N1 and the seasonal flu vaccine. Next year the vaccination will be a single seasonal flu shot, with a mixture of several different flu strains. 

Erie Family Health Center was a leader in providing H1N1 vaccinations this flu season, providing over 5,000 vaccines to children, more than 850 to pregnant women and over 700 to chronically ill adults. Erie opened its doors and made it easy for patients, relatives and others to walk in and receive a vaccination.

Haven’t yet gotten an H1N1 shot?  Should you still get one?  Yes.

The CDC is now encouraging everyone to get vaccinated.  This could give you a head start even if the flu season is over for this spring, since H1N1 may come back before the 2010-2011 seasonal vaccine is available next fall.  Supplies of H1N1 vaccine are still readily available – so it is not too late!

Flu prevention business is a tricky one.  Every year, we are reminded to wash our hands and cover our cough, while public health experts try to outguess Mother Nature and predict the best vaccine.  We know that the TV weatherperson has a difficult time telling us if it is going to rain, snow or be sunny tomorrow—and predicting the patterns of a virus is even more complex.  H1N1 is still smoldering in certain parts of the country.  We should be worried and prepared for the flu if and when it decides to return. 

For weekly updates on the flu, visit flu.gov.

Tags: community health, Erie, H1N1, vaccines