Hawaii health officials say the H1N1 swine flu virus is now more widespread than the seasonal flu and getting vaccinated for both may not come as easy for the general public. More than 100,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been allotted to the state by the Centers for Disease Control.
"You should know that the vaccines are actually trickling into the states, its not a flood of availability at the present time we are focusing on our priority groups,” said Dr. Chiyome Fukino of the state health department.
Those include first responders, health care workers, pregnant women and children.
"Just to remind everyone Hawaii represents 0.42% of the U.S. population that is our share every week or every day that they release numbers that is what they calculate and give us,” said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist.
So far 11 people in Hawaii have died from complications related to the H1N1 virus.
Compared to the number of people infected and the mortality rates on the mainland, Hawaii is doing well.
But health officials continue to prepare for the worst.
"There’s definitely more H1N1 even with our low activity level there definitely more H1N1 and its not surprising it's the dominant virus,” said Park.
The H1N1 vaccine is not available to the general public just yet.
Health department officials are focusing their efforts on getting kids immunized at schools.
In the meantime, the seasonal flu vaccine may be harder to get than expected.
Some health care providers don't have enough seasonal flu vaccines to go around, and they're waiting for more.
"There has been a steady supply of the vaccine but we have seen is there has been a huge increase in demand for the seasonal vaccine,” said Park. “They are steadily arriving yes."
