Frederica Freyberg:
We stay in Milwaukee for our next interview, a check-in with the state's chief medical officer on the status of H1N1. There have been several deaths attributed to H1N1 across the state just in the last week. Meanwhile, limited supplies of vaccine are being directed to high-risk groups, among them pregnant women, health workers and children with underlying conditions. Many clinics are on hold as officials await the delivery of more vaccine. This was the scene a week ago in Milwaukee when more than 1,000 people received vaccinations. Dr. Seth Foldy, of the state Department of Health Services joins us from Milwaukee. Thanks very much for doing so.

Seth Foldy:
Thank you for having me.

Frederica Freyberg:
What is the status of vaccine supply in Wisconsin?

Seth Foldy:
Well, over the last week we have gained more supply, particularly of the injectable vaccine that many people are interested in getting or need to get. So our supplies are very gradually rising. But they're still not up to a level that it makes sense to hand them all out to the general public in mass clinics. That's why we're focusing on five key groups at this time.

Frederica Freyberg:
When do you expect this full kind of supply chain to be in the works?

Seth Foldy:
Well, making predictions is, as we've learned, a little hazardous. But if current federal projections hold, over the next three to four weeks there will be continued accumulation of vaccine in Wisconsin, perhaps enough to open up the groups that might be eligible. We might be able to do it sooner or later. It's hard to predict.

Frederica Freyberg:
How frustrating and frightening really is it for public health officials to have this shortage of vaccine, not to mention the fear on the part of the general public?

Seth Foldy:
Well, certainly it's very frustrating for everybody. I think the fear has to be put in some perspective. The numbers of people dying from the H1N1 vaccine is not radically different from what we see with the typical seasonal flu. What is disturbing, of course, is the H1N1 affects much younger people. Those are the people who are being infected and they are therefore contributing to those in the hospital and those in the death statistics more than usual. The important thing for us is to get the vaccine to some of those who are at the highest risk, and that's why our current priorities include pregnant women, those who care for infants under six months of age, since those infants don't actually get much effect from the vaccine, young children from six months through four years of age, older children up through age 18 who have chronic conditions that may put them at risk of pneumonia or other complications and finally the health care workforce that is going to have a day-to-day exposure to infectious patients or infectious materials on the job.

Frederica Freyberg:
How widespread is H1N1 in the state right now and how quickly is it spreading? 

Seth Foldy:
It is widespread. We have reported cases from all but a handful of counties, and I suspect there is flu there too. So we don't have to worry so much about spread. It is in your neighborhood. It is around us, which emphasizes our needs to continue to use hand washing, cough covering and staying home when sick. The amount of flu in Wisconsin today is similar to a bad seasonal flu peak season. In other words, when we have the worst of a typical annual flu outbreak, the numbers we're seeing now resemble that. It could keep rising since so few Wisconsinites have either been infected by or immunized against this flu.

Frederica Freyberg:
All right. Well, we continue to watch it. Dr. Seth Foldy, thanks very much for your time.

Seth Foldy:
Thank you very much.