Seasonal flu vaccine appears to be available in limited amounts only. Although there were no reports of an anticipated seasonal flu vaccine shortage, we received only a small percentage of our vaccine order. Taos Pharmacy has run out of seasonal flu vaccine. We do not expect to receive any more but we continue to try to find more.

The New Mexico Department of Health reports flu activity weekly on the web site http://nmhealth.org/H1N1/situation_update.shtml. The week ending Wednesday, October 21, they report that H1N1 is the predominant strain of flu in New Mexico. All positive tests for the flu are presumed to be H1N1. Hospitalizations and deaths are tracked to determine if disease is becoming more severe. It appears that the severity of H1N1 is not increasing in New Mexico or nationally. Influenza-like symptoms are fever, cough, and/or sore throat. Visits for influenza-like symptoms are up to 20% of all visits at 22 clinics monitored in New Mexico, up from 16% from last week. This compares to 3% of all visits at the peak of last year's flu season in March. There have been 468 people hospitalized for H1N1 flu in New Mexico this season, 15 in Taos County.

The New Mexico Department of Health has ordered 78,600 doses of nasal and injectable H1N1 vaccine. The vaccine is arriving is small amounts and is being distributed to providers and public health offices. People who are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated for H1N1 include pregnant women, household members and caregivers for infants under 6 months old, children 6 months to 5 years old, children 5 to 18 years old who have chronic health conditions, and healthcare workers and emergency medical service personnel with direct patient contact. Vaccine will be distributed primarily through ob/gyn, pediatric, and family practice providers. Vaccine will also be available at local public health offices. For information about scheduled flu shot clinics, call 1-866-681-5872 or go online to http://www.nmivc.org/cliniclist.php. Taos County has ordered 990 doses of H1N1 vaccine. Taos Pharmacy does not expect to receive any H1N1 vaccine.

Symptoms of flu include abrupt onset of fever, muscle pain, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (more common in children). Recommendations to prevent the spread of flu include frequent hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, covering mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth, avoiding other people if you have symptoms or are sick, and avoiding close contact (within 6 feet) of persons with known illness.

Reference: http://www.health.state.nm.us/FLU/index.shtml.

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