State planning for swine flu vaccine drive in fall

Illinois health officials have started planning for a massive vaccine campaign that could target both seasonal and swine flu.

The state will receive $11.5 million in grants from the federal government to prepare for this fall's seasonal and swine flu threat, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday. Chicago will receive separate grants totaling nearly $3.3 million.

No final decision has been made on whether to vaccinate Americans for swine flu. But if a new vaccine is deemed safe and effective, Illinois health officials will start explaining to the public why they may need two, or even three, flu shots this fall, said Dr. Damon Arnold, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The new flu vaccine could require one or two doses, and the seasonal flu vaccine would be a separate shot. Children, adults with chronic health problems and health care and emergency workers are likely to be priority groups to whom the swine flu vaccine will be offered.

"It's going to take a massive campaign," Arnold said. Private businesses, health care providers and public health officials will help with the planning, he said.

Arnold wants to increase the emphasis on seasonal flu shots this year to prevent that illness and ease the burden on hospitals and workplaces.

"We'll be especially pushing it this year," Arnold said, noting that seasonal flu kills 36,000 Americans a year. "We want to get ahead of that curve."

Arnold attended Thursday's summit in Washington along with hundreds of other state and local health officials preparing for swine flu's fall threat. He made a presentation on Illinois' response to swine flu.

Since April, Illinois has seen 3,259 probable and confirmed cases of swine flu in 34 counties, according to a state tally updated Friday. There have been 14 deaths in the state from the virus.

The rate of new cases of swine flu in Illinois has been slowing for several weeks. It's not clear whether fall and winter will bring a surge in illnesses, or whether Illinois will continue to be among the hardest hit states, Arnold said.

Thirty-four Illinois counties have reported cases of swine flu since April. For the first time this week, Grundy and Jo Daviess counties are reporting swine flu, with one confirmed case in each county.

Grundy County is in northern Illinois, southwest of Chicago.

Jo Daviess County is in northwestern Illinois and borders both Iowa and Wisconsin.