Children's deaths increase from H1N1 virus, protection is critical: CDC

By Sheilah Downey

With seven months still left in the flu season, and the H1N1 virus causing 76 deaths in children already, the Centers for Disease Control says it's "critical" that people protect themselves from the path of the virus.

"The H1N1 virus is in virtually the entire country," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "We think the vast majority of people in a given community are vulnerable or susceptible to this virus."

The virus is now widespread in 37 states, said Schuchat, up from 27 states the week before, and is causing "more illnesses, more hospitalizations and more deaths from it," according to a CDC news release.

There were 19 more pediatric deaths from the swine flu reported just last week, said Schuchat, bringing the total of deaths in children alone to 76. The numbers are disturbing when total pediatric seasonal flu deaths in previous years ranged from 46 to 88.

Even with the large amount of deaths from the flu so far, Schuchat said it's still too early to predict what will happen in the months ahead.

"It's hard for us to know how many waves we'll have going into the fall, winter and spring," she said. "Some places that saw outbreaks last spring are seeing an increase in disease right now."

Even with the flu threat lingering, more than a third of people who responded to a CBS News poll said they still would not have their children vaccinated.

According to the poll, published on Friday, 46 percent said they were "very" likely to vaccinate, 13 percent said "somewhat" likely, 18 percent said "not very" and 19 percent said "not at all likely" to have their children vaccinated.

Schuchat said as of Friday, all states and the District of Columbia had placed orders for the H1N1 virus. Starting next week the CDC will be posting state-specific data on availability of the vaccine.

She said local health departments are the best sources of information on where vaccination clinics will be held. In the next two or three weeks the vaccines should be available on a widespread basis.