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October 29, 2009 - 12:00 am
Doses for H1N1 less than anticipated
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</noscript> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> New Hampshire is experiencing a rise in cases of H1N1, or swine, flu - cutting into school attendance rates and clogging physicians' phone lines. But vaccine for the new virus has been slow to arrive, and even patients who should be at the front of the line have not yet received it.
"Everyone comes in asking about H1N1 vaccine," said Dr. Patricia Kegel, a family physician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Concord who said she's seen a significant uptick in patients with influenza-like illness. "And I have to say, 'It's probably a good idea, but nobody has it.' "
The state has begun doling out its initial allocation of vaccine, but it's received fewer doses than anticipated. Some hospitals and physician practices have had enough doses to offer to health care workers and some patients. Many still have no H1N1 vaccine at all.
The state had originally planned to vaccinate the groups at highest risk for illness in October. Now, local practices hope to offer vaccines to only a fraction of those patients, most beginning next week. More vaccine should be available after that - health officials say they will receive a large shipment of flu shots next week.
"We're going to start vaccinating people after the peak, which kind of defeats the purpose of the vaccine," said Dr. Joseph Lowne of Family Physicians of Pembroke, which is owned by Concord Hospital.
Many other states have experienced a rush as the vaccine is offered at public clinics. New Hampshire appears to be weeks away from such events, since the initial vaccine supply has been set aside for pregnant women, children between 6 months and 5 years old, and health care workers on the front lines.
Meanwhile, state health officials say the number of flu cases here is rising, though not dramatically. A state tracking system indicates that between 3 and 4 percent of all doctors' visits are for flu-like illness. That's as high as the typical peak of the seasonal flu season, said state disease control Chief Chris Adamski, but not as high as the national figure, 7 percent.
"Clearly, this is what we think is the second wave of this pandemic," Adamski said. "How bad will it get? That we really don't know."
Officials are not testing every case of flu-like illness to determine whether it's the swine flu. In fact, doctors are not recommending that most flu victims seek medical care at all. Though the new virus can sometimes cause serious disease in young, healthy people, most cases so far have been mild and resolved with rest, chicken soup and over-the-counter medicines.
But health officials say members of certain groups have more to worry about and should seek immediate care.
Pregnant women, children with chronic lung or immune conditions, and anyone experiencing difficulty breathing should go to the doctor when they're sick. So far, the state has experienced little severe illness and only one death from this flu.
Dr. David Stevenson, an obstetrician at Concord OB/GYN, which is owned by Concord Hospital, said he's concerned about the outlook for his pregnant patients who can't get flu vaccine in time.
"I'm very worried about the severity of this illness in my patients," he said.
Schools have become a key indicator of flu activity for the state. Like the figures for doctors' visits, overall absences are fairly low. But local school districts have seen some spikes. Last week, nearly 30 percent of middle and high school students in the Bow School District were home sick. By yesterday, Bow absences had tapered off to about 10 percent, Superintendent Dean Cascadden said.
"It's three to six days and the kids come back," Cascadden said
Doses for H1N1 less than anticipated
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"Everyone comes in asking about H1N1 vaccine," said Dr. Patricia Kegel, a family physician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Concord who said she's seen a significant uptick in patients with influenza-like illness. "And I have to say, 'It's probably a good idea, but nobody has it.' "
The state has begun doling out its initial allocation of vaccine, but it's received fewer doses than anticipated. Some hospitals and physician practices have had enough doses to offer to health care workers and some patients. Many still have no H1N1 vaccine at all.
The state had originally planned to vaccinate the groups at highest risk for illness in October. Now, local practices hope to offer vaccines to only a fraction of those patients, most beginning next week. More vaccine should be available after that - health officials say they will receive a large shipment of flu shots next week.
"We're going to start vaccinating people after the peak, which kind of defeats the purpose of the vaccine," said Dr. Joseph Lowne of Family Physicians of Pembroke, which is owned by Concord Hospital.
Many other states have experienced a rush as the vaccine is offered at public clinics. New Hampshire appears to be weeks away from such events, since the initial vaccine supply has been set aside for pregnant women, children between 6 months and 5 years old, and health care workers on the front lines.
Meanwhile, state health officials say the number of flu cases here is rising, though not dramatically. A state tracking system indicates that between 3 and 4 percent of all doctors' visits are for flu-like illness. That's as high as the typical peak of the seasonal flu season, said state disease control Chief Chris Adamski, but not as high as the national figure, 7 percent.
"Clearly, this is what we think is the second wave of this pandemic," Adamski said. "How bad will it get? That we really don't know."
Officials are not testing every case of flu-like illness to determine whether it's the swine flu. In fact, doctors are not recommending that most flu victims seek medical care at all. Though the new virus can sometimes cause serious disease in young, healthy people, most cases so far have been mild and resolved with rest, chicken soup and over-the-counter medicines.
But health officials say members of certain groups have more to worry about and should seek immediate care.
Pregnant women, children with chronic lung or immune conditions, and anyone experiencing difficulty breathing should go to the doctor when they're sick. So far, the state has experienced little severe illness and only one death from this flu.
Dr. David Stevenson, an obstetrician at Concord OB/GYN, which is owned by Concord Hospital, said he's concerned about the outlook for his pregnant patients who can't get flu vaccine in time.
"I'm very worried about the severity of this illness in my patients," he said.
Schools have become a key indicator of flu activity for the state. Like the figures for doctors' visits, overall absences are fairly low. But local school districts have seen some spikes. Last week, nearly 30 percent of middle and high school students in the Bow School District were home sick. By yesterday, Bow absences had tapered off to about 10 percent, Superintendent Dean Cascadden said.
"It's three to six days and the kids come back," Cascadden said
