H1N1 vaccine may arrive Monday

Vaccines for what health officials are now calling the 2009 H1N1 influenza may be shipped as early as Monday, according to a Primary Children's Medical Center administrator.

"We're already off and running with a fall wave (of the pandemic), just as was predicted," Andrew Pavia, chief of pediatric infectious diseases, said Saturday during the University of Utah School of Medicine's Alumni Week symposium on the treatment of emerging infectious diseases. Participants also discussed West Nile virus and cryptosporidium.

Pavia said a variety of flu viruses have been circulating, but weaker strains have died out, perhaps leaving the all-too-familiar H1N1 stronger than ever.

At the peak of the novel H1N1 influenza pandemic in mid-June, doctors were reporting at least 300 new cases each week. Pavia said if high-risk categories aren't vaccinated, numbers might be similar this fall.

"Influenza is never a national disease, it's a local disease that moves through communities in ways we cannot predict," he said, adding that quick action is necessary to prevent more deaths.

So far, 522 deaths in the U.S. have been related to flu symptoms and 7,983 victims have been hospitalized. In Utah, 17 people have died and at least 300 were hospitalized, according to the latest figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is already tracking the prevalence of flu symptoms in the country.

Infection rates are highest among young adults and those with existing underlying medical conditions. They are advised to get one of the 159 million flu shots soon to be made available in the United States, the first 6 million to be delivered Monday. Vaccinations and early treatment are also important for children from birth to age 4 as well as pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

The next wave of sickness is being tracked by progressing symptoms, but Pavia said a fall wave of pandemic H1N1 "is likely. We anticipate high attack rate and high volume."

Fortunately, Utah is equipped to handle the surge, according to David Sundwall, executive director of the Utah Department of Health. He said the state is currently ranked fifth healthiest in the nation, partly due to conservative habits of residents as well as preparation and health management efforts by local government leaders.

"The Mormon health code definitely serves as a bonus," he said, adding that Utah has a low incidence of smoking and drinking, as well as the lowest rate of cancer deaths in the country.