This is in response to a Sept. 29 letter ("Grandma not getting priority for H1N1 shot").

We all need to be proactive and protect ourselves from influenza - seasonal flu and H1N1. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have established guidelines for persons at greatest risk for infection and death from the virus.

This risk profile is being utilized to assure higher priority populations have access to the initial shipments of vaccine.

Seasonal flu places persons 50 and older at greatest risk and this population should receive the seasonal vaccine as soon as it becomes available.

Approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die each year because of seasonal flu.

Contrary to the seasonal flu, studies show that H1N1 puts other populations more at risk than persons over age 65. It appears the older populations are protected from this virus - possibly because they were exposed to similar viruses in the 1940s and 1950s.

The intent of the priority groups is to assure vaccine availability, not limit availability. The federal government continues to report that ample supplies of the H1N1 vaccine will be available to anyone who wants to be vaccinated.

As vaccine becomes available to local medical providers, our hope is that "Grandma" too can receive the vaccine.

The best way to protect ourselves is to get the vaccines as they become available. Also be diligent about good hygiene. Wash hands often with soap and warm water, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or in our sleeve, and stay home if we are sick.

Jan Morris

Hopedale

The writer is health promotion program manager, McLean County Health Department.