H1N1 mania

Kermit the Frog of "Sesame Street" has long lamented, "It's not easy bein' green." These days, it's not easy being a parent with H1N1 mania sweeping the nation. Should parents send their kids to school and risk coming in contact with the bug, knowing that access to the vaccine to fight it is still a day, a week or longer away? Are the students claiming to be too ill to go to school really sick, and if so, with what? A cold, seasonal flu, H1N1? How concerned should parents be?

According to President Obama, we should be very concerned. Over the weekend he declared the pandemic a national emergency and for the nation's health systems to deal with the "rapid increase in illness" from the H1N1 influenza virus.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, 5 percent to 20 percent of Americans get the seasonal flu each year, on average; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications; and about 36,000 people die from seasonal flu-related causes.

H1N1, the former swine flu, is a new strain of virus for which a vaccine is just now being distributed. Due to limited supply, it will be given first only to the most vulnerable -- pregnant women, those younger than 24, parents and caregivers of very young children, first responders, and those age 25 to 64 with underlying medical conditions. Those of us 25 to 64 who don't fall into those categories must wait our turn and hope to avoid coming down with it.

Lake County health officials had hoped for upward of 50,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine in their first shipment, but ended up with only 10,000 which will be distributed starting tomorrow at five county locations -- Gurnee, North Chicago, Mundelein, Round Lake Beach and Waukegan. Again, high-risk groups will get priority. The county has ordered 100,000 vaccine doses and expects to eventually receive at least that amount. The Illinois Department of Insurance said Tuesday the state's largest insurers -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, CIGNA, Humana, United Healthcare, to name a few -- have voluntarily agreed to cover administration costs associated with the H1N1 vaccine for their policyholders, which should make more of us get the vaccine once it's available.

In the meantime, don't panic. Check with personal physicians or area pharmacies and make an appointment soon for a seasonal flu shot. Also, ask when they will have H1N1 shots or sprays available.

Oh, and don't forget to wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you cough, keep your hands away from your face, and drink plenty of fluids. Dr. Mom was right all along.