HealthTree Blog

The “normal” flu season of 2009 turned out to be not so normal. This is because swine flu, the common name given to the H1N1 flu virus, began to appear, first in only some parts of the United States and the world, but then began to spread further.

The swine flu strain actually made an appearance well before the regular flu season began. Along with the early start, it became apparent that this particular viral strain of flu was going to be different from the regular flu virus. For one thing, swine flu appeared most often in younger children and older adults, although no age group was ultimately left out. And, as with other childhood diseases and common illnesses of childhood, it affected some children worse than others.

However, as soon as health officials determined what it was they were dealing with, they did begin to manufacture a vaccine for the swine flu. This vaccine was then offered to children, with those who, because of chronic illnesses or suppressed immune systems receive normal flu vaccinations for childhood diseases and common illnesses as soon as it becomes available being given high priority.

There is already talk of the swine flu vaccine being given next year as a matter of routine, just as the regular flu vaccine is. Whether or not, however, swine flu will take its place among the list of common childhood diseases or common illnesses remains to be seen.