Who’s on priority list for swine-flu vaccine?

U.S. flu map | SPECIAL REPORT: Swine Flu

Q:Why aren't people 65 and over on the priority list for swine-flu vaccine? TAMMIE
SMITH
It seems to me an aspect of the rationing that's talked about in health-care reform.

Answer: The H1N1 swine flu is unusual in that it seems to be making younger people sick more often, unlike regular seasonal flu, which strikes the very young and older people more often.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from April to August this year show babies up to 23 months old and people age 50 and over hospitalized less often for H1N1 than for seasonal flu. However, for people in the age groups 5-17 and 18-49, hospitalizations rates were similar or higher for H1N1 than for seasonal flu.

Overall, hospitalizations are low for all groups. The flu is mild in most people, but there have been deaths and there are concerns it could change over time and become more virulent. That's why the swine-flu vaccine is recommended for those priority groups at the greatest risk of complications.

Federal officials expect to have earliest does of swine-flu vaccine the first week of October. It will be a nasal vaccine, which is recommended only for healthy people ages 2-49.

As of Sept. 4, the CDC reported 9,079 hospitalizations and 593 deaths related to H1N1 swine-flu infections. The deaths include 16 people 0-4 years; 93 people 5-24 years; 249 people 25-49 years; 171 people 50-64 years; 57 people 65 and older; and seven deaths for which age was not reported.

The H1N1 strain that is circulating is new, and people never have been exposed to it previously. However, older people may have developed some immunity from past exposures to flu strains similar to the H1N1 strain.

Older people still are among the priority groups recommended for seasonal flu vaccine.

Health officials say there should be plenty of swine-flu vaccine eventually. And seasonal-flu vaccine is available now.

Contact Tammie Smith at (804) 6496572 or .