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Everyone knows that this is a bad time for influenza in the United States. First, the whole world is battling a pandemic with a newcomer on the scene, first called the Swine Flu, then the Novel H1N1 Flu (because it carries genetic components of two types of swine influenza along with one type of avian, or bird flu, and one type of human flu), and more recently it’s being called the 2009 H1N1 flu. Second, because we’re just beginning the time that regular Seasonal Flu hits us in the Northern Hemisphere.

2009 H1N1 flu differs from Seasonal Flu in important ways. It disproportionately affects young persons and those with impaired immune systems, including pregnant mothers. The vaccine for this type of flu has just arrived and the CDC has advised that certain groups should be given top priority for receiving it. The priority groups are:

1. Pregnant mothers
2. Persons who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
3. Health care and emergency medical personnel
4. Anyone between the ages of 6 months and 24 years of age
5. Anyone 25 to 65 years of age with medical conditions that put them at risk for flu complications

At the time of this writing, the graphs and charts depicting flu activity are blossoming, with 41 states reporting widespread activity and, to date; over 20,000 patients have been hospitalized with flu or pneumonia and over 2, 300 who have died from it. Those numbers are unheard of for October and are more consistent with the peak of Seasonal Flu, late January to early March. The cause of almost all this so far is the 2009 H1N1 flu. Seasonal flu is waiting in the wings.

So the flu is bad this year and likely to get worse. What can we do about it? Well, thank God, we have vaccines for both types of flu. Right now we have widespread availability of seasonal flu vaccine and a limited but increasing amount of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Each type of vaccine should, starting 10 to 21 days after taking it, protect a majority – but not all - of those who receive it. There are some uncertainties, which relate to whether or not the types of flu in each vaccine change and how good your immune response is to the vaccine. The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is monovalent, that means it is formulated to protect against just the 2009 H1N1 influenza. The Seasonal Flu vaccine is trivalent, meaning it contains elements formulated to protect against the three types of flu predicted, but not yet proven, to be prevalent this time of year. So you need two flu shots this year. You can get your seasonal flu shot now and, if you are in one of the priority groups listed above, you should see your doctor and get a 2009 H1N1 shot as soon as you can.

Now, what should you do if you develop flu symptoms, like a cough, fever, and muscle aches?

Well here are two algorithms, or “recipes” that the CDC has developed to help doctors and patients decide when to seek treatment EVEN IF YOU HAVE HAD BOTH FLU SHOTS.

One is for adults 18 http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/pdf/adultalgorithm.pdf and over and one is for persons 17 and under http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/pdf/childalgorithm.pdf

Take home messages:

1. Please get your seasonal flu shot now.
2. If you are in a priority group for 2009 H1N1 flu, get that vaccination also now.
3. If you are not in a priority group for 2009 H1N1 flu, get that shot as soon as those with priority have had theirs.
4. Before and after you get your flu shots, keep practicing good hygiene to control coughs and sneezes, wash and/or sanitize your hands, consider wearing a surgical mask, and exercise good judgment if you develop flu symptoms: stay home and try to keep from passing the virus on to other.