Preventing the ‘second wave’ Published Feb. 11, 2010 By Howdy Stout Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Cases of seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses are on the rise in Oklahoma, indicating the start of the "second wave" of the fall and winter flu season. Outbreaks of the flu were widespread last year and national health officials are predicting the resumption of the flu season this month in a traditional second wave to the annual flu season. "We're already starting to see some new case indicating the beginning of a second wave." said Major Juan Ramirez, commander of 72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron's Public Health Flight. As a result, health officials at Tinker are urging parents to make sure children are immunized against both the H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses. Immunizations for children six months to nine-years-old include booster shots scheduled a month after the first inoculation. Adults and older children only require one immunization. "Kids 6 months to 9 years require a booster for the seasonal flu and the H1N1 vaccine," explains Maj. Amy Quirke of the Medical Group's Pediatric Clinic. "The booster is supposed to be one month after the initial dose." Because children under the age of 9 have less-developed immune systems, the spacing of the initial vaccine and booster shot is important to maximize the effectiveness of the inoculation. "It's best for the children and they'll get the most immunization for it," Major Quirke said. If the booster shots are not received in time, she adds, children will need to be inoculated again -- including another booster -- before the start of the next flu season. Inoculated children who receive their timely booster shot will only need one vaccination for the next flu season. National health officials were extremely concerned last year about the effect of the H1N1 flu virus on children, in part because older Americans exposed to the Swine Flu in the 1940s and 1950s already had some resistance to the novel virus. The young, however, have never been exposed to that particular strain of influenza. "That's why it hit the younger kids and teenagers so hard," Major Quirke says. In Oklahoma, widespread flu outbreaks in October severely affected school and university attendance. More than 1,000 people have been hospitalized in the state since the flu outbreak began last year. Four died. The Oklahoma State Department of Health says flu testing shows 28 percent of those suffering from flu-like symptoms have the H1N1 virus, up from 11 percent in January. "I expect we're going to see more from the state pretty soon," Major Ramirez said. Although the Medical Group opened a separate Flu Clinic last September to accommodate those suffering from influenza, they also took a proactive stance by offering to inoculate children during routine pediatric visits, and setting up areas across base and going duty locations to administer the vaccine . "We use every visit as an opportunity to vaccinate," Major Quirke says. "If your child is not severely ill, then we can vaccinate them."