Influenza Update

We have made it through the worst of influenza season for 2009/ 2010, although sporadic cases of H1N1 are still occuring.  Please contact us immediately if you are experiencing any symptoms of the flu, or if you have not yet been vaccinated.

(2009-09-26)  Looking at data from New Zealand, where winter is nearing an end, it appears that H1N1 was the dominant influenza strain.  This is often a strong predictor for patterns in the U.S. as we approach our own flu season.  Vaccine manufacturing so far has been slow.  By current estimates, 30 to 45 million doses of H1N1 vaccine should be available by late October or early November; unfortunately we need approximately 600 million doses to cover the at-risk population.  The CDC and state health departments will be in charge of vaccine distribution and establishing patient eligibility policies.  Altitude Family & Internal Medicine has requested to be a distribution site.  We will keep you informed.

Traditional influenza vaccine should be available at Altitude in early September. The CDC is recommending that we start immunizing patients as soon as supplies are available.  Considering that data from the last few years reveals that influenza cases have been peaking in late March, and that thoretically the protective duration of the vaccine is 4 to 6 months, it may be more resonable to receive the immunization in October or November.  This data must be balanced with the knowledge that once vaccine supplies are exhausted there will likely be no further production.

(2009-08-26)  This fall and winter may prove to be interesting with both H1N1 and traditional influenza showing certain virulence.  Vaccine supplies are currently uncertain as production has been unfortunately slow.  The H1N1 virus is quite elusive and rapidly mutating and safety testing on the first vaccine candidate has just started.  Please stay tuned as we will be posting updates as soon as they become available.