Utah's supply of flu vaccine is so limited that health officials are advising health-care providers to save vaccine for those at highest risk of complications.
Those considered highest risk are children 6 to 23 months old, those older than 65, people with chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease and pregnant women in their second and third trimester. They will be able to get vaccine as long as the "extremely limited" supplies last.
Not on that list are healthy children who received an initial dose of the flu vaccine and were told to get a booster dose a month later. They may be able to get that second dose from their pediatrician.
Meanwhile, a third Utahn has died from influenza. Details were sketchy, but unlike the two Salt Lake County deaths that involved people older than 65, the latest individual felled by the illness was much younger, said Utah Department of Health director Dr. Scott Williams. It was the first death outside Salt Lake County from flu this season. Officials also emphasized that flu deaths are most likely in people who have other complicating health problems.
Officials Friday held a news conference not only to explain new guidelines for receiving vaccine but to reassure a public that is growing increasingly uneasy because the flu season seemed to hit so early and hard.
Even for those who catch influenza, Williams said, "the chance is overwhelming that they will get sick for a few days and then be better."
Some Utahns die of influenza each year. The most vulnerable are the very young and older people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that, nationally, about 36,000 people die each year from flu.
People may be more concerned than they need to be, state epidemiologist Dr. Robert Rolfs said. "People may be viewing this as more serious than we really have data to support."
One complication is that the flu vaccine included protection against a Panama strain, but many of the cases so far have been the Fujian strain. The vaccine will still provide some protection against that strain, though it wasn't included.
Although health officials track influenza through sentinel sites, which provides a sense of the severity, the numbers are always very low compared to reality because most people don't go to a doctor and doctors don't always order lab tests.
Still, the numbers released Friday were considerably higher. Tests have confirmed 3,068 cases in the state, from 38 tracking clinics. The physicians report that about 12 percent of the patients they see have "influenza-like" illness, higher than either of the past two years.
Most influenza so far in Utah has been Type A, with a handful of Influenza B cases.
School absenteeism last week was 6.6 percent. Last year's peak absenteeism was 6 percent.
This flu season has not come close to the severity of the 1918, 1968 and 1977 seasons, he said.
Officials are not telling private doctors how to use any flu vaccine they may have but suggest they follow the guidelines. After those at highest risk receive it, the next priority are pregnant women in their first trimester and caregivers of those at high risk.
The nasal spray, FluMist, is still available.
Because there will be no more vaccine this year, officials are offering suggestions to avoid the flu. Williams hopes people will find a way to greet each other that doesn't involve handshakes. "Perhaps a thumbs up or a salute," he quipped.
It's important to stay home if you're ill to avoid spreading it. Williams said businesses, schools and others should make sure policies allow people who are ill to stay home during the outbreak.
Covering mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing is key, as is washing hands thoroughly and often.
People are also being encouraged to "ask for a mask" when they enter doctors' offices, hospitals and clinics.
High-risk individuals are also being encouraged to get a pneumonia vaccine because that's a life-threatening complication of influenza.
E-mail: lois@desnews.com