Endocrine Insider
December 10, 2009

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The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has recently disseminated information about the 2009 H1N1 flu and people with diabetes. At high risk for complications from H1N1 and the seasonal flu, people with diabetes should be vaccinated as soon as possible. Therefore, HHS has requested that organizations such as The Endocrine Society apprise their members of the most up-to-date information and provide physicians with tools to inform their patients.

Following are some points of interest surrounding the 2009 viruses reported by HHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Flu activity has been higher this season and the majority of reported flu cases have been H1N1.
   
• In the past, flu pandemics have been characterized by multiple waves. Scientists and doctors recommend H1N1 vaccination even if flu activity slows, as it could resume later in the season.
  
  
• Although all states have ordered the H1N1 vaccine, because the vaccine distribution varies by state, each community will circulate the vaccine differently.
  
  
• The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is taking longer to produce. However, scientists, doctors, manufactures, and the HHS are working endlessly to produce a safe vaccine that will be available as soon as possible. 

HHS and the CDC have compiled the following resources relevant for people with diabetes and the general population:

• FLU.gov is a one-stop resource with the latest updates on the H1N1 flu. The site contains information on How to Prevent and Treat the Flu, Flu Essentials, Why the H1N1 Vaccine is Safe and Recommended by Health Experts, Myths & Facts of the flu. To look up where to get vaccinated in your state, visit the Vaccine Locator. This information is updated regularly as more doses are shipped each week.
  
  
• Flu (both seasonal and 2009 H1N1) and diabetes information is included on www.cdc.gov/diabetes and http://ndep.nih.gov/. 
  
  
• An additional resource is the CDC hotline, 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), which offers services in English and Spanish 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Endocrine Society will continue to keep its members informed as new information becomes available.