Although the number of University Health Service patients with influenza-like illnesses decreased, the peak of the 2009   H1N1 Influenza has yet to come.

Dr. Chris Nelson, associate professor of pediatrics specializing in infectious diseases, said in a Sept. 29 Kernel article the peak of the Novel H1N1 in the U.S. is unknown for sure, but is most likely to occur in late 2009 or early 2010.

Almost 16 percent of the 1,007 patients admitted to University Health Services from Oct. 26 through Oct. 31 were reported to have influenza-like illnesses.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department received their first batch of H1N1 flu mist vaccine, or intranasal, on Oct. 13.  According to its Web site, however, the H1N1 vaccine is currently not available for the general public, but both forms, intranasal and intramuscular, are expected soon.

Nelson said the health department is sending UK more intramuscular vaccinations this week.  However, due to the familiar delaying of its availability, Nelson was unsure of when it would arrive.

“I will believe it when I am standing there holding it in my hands,” Nelson said in an e-mail to the Kernel.  “(The) vaccine continues to creep out of the production lines.”

The shortage of vaccine is currently a common theme in college health facilities.

At the University of Georgia, neither the seasonal nor the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is available, said Steve Harris, UGA’s director of security and emergency preparedness.  Harris said the local public health facility has the vaccine but their student health services does not.

“One of the biggest challenges we have is not having the vaccine, but who’s to blame?” Harris said.  “There’s a general shortage nationwide, but we still do not have either … we’ve been waiting on the seasonal flu vaccine for over a month.”

Ohio State University is experiencing the same problems, but students can sign up through an “H1N1line” to receive the vaccine as it becomes available.   Numbers of patients with influenza-like illnesses were not available.

“We’re not tracking because we’re not testing, but it’s been fairly moderate,” said Amy Murray, OSU spokeswoman.  “But we’re treating (the flu) the same way.”