H1N1 Influenza Virus: Not So “Novel” Now

Early in the recent pandemic, the CDC was searching for just the right name for the influenza pandemic virus.  H1N1 wasn’t enough of a name for those unfamiliar to the influenza virology.  Swine flu wasn’t totally accurate since the re-assortment of the viruses had produced a derivative of avian and swine flu varieties. There was a concern among pork producers that out of fear of infection, people would stop eating pork. The word “novel” was added to the name but then was later dropped when familiarity with H1N1 was established. “Novel” is defined as “new and unusual, especially being the first of its kind.” That doesn’t seem to be an appropriate adjective either.  What a difference a year makes.  Many of those who demanded vaccine before it was available, never got their immunization when it was available. Now, the pandemic appears to have pooped out – or at least the worst seems to be over. It amuses me (not really) the way the general public views the implementation of our pandemic plan negatively in retrospect. When I was a kid (1968, I think) there were mass immunization clinics in my community at the high school gymnasiums to prevent a predicted swine flu epidemic. When it didn’t materialize into the potential trouble we were trying to avoid, many people called the prevention efforts a scam and berated the public health authorities of the day for wasting money. The good that seems to have come from this recent/current pandemic is that the trivalent seasonal flu vaccine will now include H1N1 and the ACIP now recommends that everyone be immunized annually. We have many more companies capable of producing influenza vaccine and so getting the required number of doses in a “normal” year should not be an issue.  We moved the whole seasonal flu vaccination process one giant step forward – and I don’t want to hear retrospective criticism.  I think it was a job well done.  Now I just hope it’s DONE.