Production of Vaccine for New Flu Strain Urged

Federal health officials said Thursday that they are urging stepped-up production of a vaccine to combat a new strain of influenza particularly dangerous to about 8 million high-risk children and young adults.

Flu specialists with the Centers for Disease Control said last month that a new variation of the flu type that researchers know as A-H1N1 had been seen in Southeast Asia and could cause outbreaks in the United States this winter.

The new strain, called Taiwan flu, is different from the strain of that type included in this winter’s flu vaccine, CDC flu specialist Nancy Arden said Thursday.

Researchers were fortunate to recognize the new flu in time to recommend a vaccine, she said. Because it is too late to change the formula for this winter’s vaccine, which is already in production, health officials recommend that doctors give a supplemental flu shot to patients.

For Those at Risk

The new vaccine is recommended for people under age 35 who are at greatest risk of serious illness from the flu because of cardiovascular or pulmonary disorders or other factors.

About 20 million Americans get flu shots each year; many are elderly people, usually a major target group for immunization. But the new vaccine is not being specifically targeted for older people because type A-H1N1 flu viruses rarely cause serious illness in people over 35, Arden said.

Any person wanting to be immunized may also receive the supplemental vaccine, the CDC said.

Production of the new vaccine has begun, and it is expected to reach doctors’ offices in November or December, the CDC said.