H1N1 swine flu may be slowing its pace in Utah

The H1N1 swine flu strain appears to have slowed its spread in Utah last week.

The percentage of patients showing up at clinics with flulike symptoms dropped by half. Hospitalizations fell sharply, too, according to the weekly report on the flu's circulation and severity by the Utah Department of Health.

But the flu is still considered to be widespread in Utah, along with 47 other states. And health officials continue to stress the need to get vaccinated and take preventive steps, like hand washing.

"Certainly we don't want people to read into this that they should let their guard down in any way whatsoever," said health department spokesman Tom Hudachko, adding that flu seasons commonly have peaks and valleys.

Wednesday's report shows that the percentage of patients visiting clinics with flu symptoms dropped to 4.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 31. That's down from 9.4 percent, but it's still higher than what is typically seen during a normal flu season.

Two more women died, both between the ages of 50 and 64. One lived in Salt Lake County. The other was from the Weber-Morgan Health District. A total of 14 Utahns have died from the flu strain this season, which began Sept. 1.

Fifty-nine Utahns were hospitalized last week, compared to 98 the week before. Half of the season's 520 flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among those ages 0 to 24.

Utah will receive another 78,600 doses of vaccine within a week.

The state's 12 local health department determine how those doses are distributed at public health clinics, hospitals, private doctors' offices and pharmacies. All providers can only vaccinate priority groups: pregnant women, children ages 6 months to 24 years, adults caring for infants, health care workers and adults up to age 64 with certain chronic conditions.

Salt Lake County switched up its distribution of the vaccine this week, setting appointments for its vaccination clinics and allowing three pharmacy chains to administer doses.

"To do it this way is so much better than standing out in the cold for hours," said Mandy Freek, waiting to get a shot at the health department's downtown clinic. She said she wanted to protect herself because she has Crohn's disease. She considered not getting vaccinated, after hearing about a relative's experience standing in line for five hours, but decided to try making an appointment after she saw an ill woman grocery shopping.

Freek's granddaughter also got an appointment. The 8-month-old has spina bifida, said her mother, Sena Grossnickle. "I was going to be so angry if I couldn't get an appointment," she said. "She needs to have it."

Smith's Food & Drug pharmacies started setting vaccine appointments Tuesday, while Harmons Grocery and Walgreens will start work on their allotments Thursday. By Wednesday afternoon, at least half of the doses at Smiths were already spoken for, with some stores completely booked.

Employees at two Salt Lake City Smith's locations said they were inundated with calls Wednesday.

Pharmacist Nancy Newsome said it was "almost impossible to get your regular work done" in between answering phones. Nearly all of the doses allotted to her store were spoken for in less than two hours. "And there goes another one," she said as a co-worker took another phone call.

By law, pharmacies cannot vaccinate children under age 13. That's a source of frustration to parents with small children who cannot get the vaccine at their doctor's office or health department.

"I have 4 children under the age of 6, my youngest being only 3 months old and was born premature," one mother wrote on the county health department's Facebook page. "I cannot afford to get her sick. Where can I go?"

With supplies low, there is no good answer. Some doctors' offices didn't request vaccines from the health department. Some are still waiting. Others have already run out.

"We know we're sending doses to [doctors], " said Audrey Stevenson director of family health services for the county health department. "We're frustrated [with the limited supply]. We're trying to distribute it as far as we possibly can."

hmay@sltrib.com