By Lewis Delavan
Stephens Media

LITTLE ROCK — As many as three flu shots may be needed to protect against seasonal flu and swine flu, state Department of Health officials said Wednesday.
One shot will be needed for seasonal flu and possibly two shots will be needed for the swine flu, also known as H1N1.

Inoculation clinics also are being planned for all public schools under mandate from Gov. Mike Beebe, said Department of Health spokesman Ed Barham.
While the seasonal flu normally hits older people the hardest, swine flu mainly affects ages 24 and under, Barham said.

“We’re not sure the reason for that,” he said. “It may be that older people have some residual resistance to it.”

Clinical trials of the H1N1 vaccine are still under way, and it’s unknown if one or two swine flu shots will be released, Barham said. Trials are conducted by private labs, under supervision of the federal Centers for Disease Control.

Should the H1N1 vaccine arrive in the state at the same time as the seasonal flu vaccine, one could be given in each shoulder, Barham said. Seasonal vaccines will be ready in mid-October.

If two swine flu shots are ultimately recommended, a second H1N1 booster shot would be given a few weeks later, he said.

Several mass clinics for flu vaccinations are being scheduled Oct. 29-31, Barham said. Last year, 125,000 vaccinations were given at mass clinics, he said.

More than 400,000 Arkansans attend public schools, about one-fifth the state’s population, Barham said, so administering vaccines there could take a considerable load off the mass clinics.

Some 154,000 doses of seasonal flu were given last year and the state expects to administer 600,000 doses this year because of heightened interest, he said.
Flu normally occurs from December through March, but schools are already reporting children out with flu. “That’s very unusual,” Barham said.

“Flu shots are highly recommended,” he said. “It’s the best protection you can have against the flu.”