Preparing for the Worst When the Fall Flu Season Arrives

Federal health officials stressed the need to start planning now for the fall influenza season when they met with state delegates at the H1N1 Influenza Preparedness Summit. "Over the course of coming weeks and months, we will move aggressively to prepare the nation for the possibility of a more severe outbreak of the H1N1 virus," said Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius.

The H1N1 vaccine should be ready for distribution in mid-October. Because novel H1N1 influenza appears to disproportionately affect children and young adults, local health officials will likely work with schools and community centers to encourage vaccination.

The federal government will also centralize communications about H1N1 and seasonal flu on the new Web site www.flu.gov. This one-stop comprehensive site brings together flu-related information from across HHS and other federal agencies. The expanded site builds on the pandemic planning information previously presented on www.pandemicflu.gov, and includes information about novel H1N1 influenza as well as seasonal influenza.