Last week our 15-month-old daughter’s health care provider suggested that both she and our four year old be immunized with the flu vaccine. They are more vulnerable because of their young ages. However, we couldn’t get the vaccine right then because their office had run out. Today the office called to say they had received a regular supply and wanted to schedule a time to bring the children in to receive the shots. Unfortunately, only our 15-month-old daughter was eligible for the shots they have in stock because she is adopted and on our private medical insurance. Our four-year-old daughter has Medicaid and isn’t eligible for the regular shot, so she has to wait until they receive their health department supply of shots. Great, now I get to make two trips instead of one to the pediatrician. Is one type of shot more effective than the other is?

According to World Health Organization, WHO, drug makers have been able to produce many more flu vaccines than they originally thought they would be able to due to a more efficient formula. There is concern about a global flu pandemic and having enough vaccine supply to meet demand.

Apparently, global epidemics usually strike three times in each century and that puts us overdue for an influenza pandemic most health experts agree. Last year it was believed that 100 million courses of pandemic vaccine could be produced immediately, but now it looks like 4.5 billion could be ready by 2010.

Seasonal vaccines provide immunity against three strains of flu virus. Seasonal flu causes 250,000-500,000 deaths as well as severe illness in three to five million people every year. Those most at risk are seniors, children, health-care workers, and anyone with a chronic illness. Influenza usually peaks in the U.S. in February so the CDC recommends that people are vaccinated as soon as possible before that date.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September approved the use of the nasal flu vaccine FluMist to children who are between two and five years old. The nasal vaccine had previously been limited to healthy individuals beginning at age five up to adults not over 49.

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