Tribune editorial staff

Hospitals in the Tri-State are overflowing due to the flu outbreak that has swept the country.

More people than usual have been coming down with the flu, some so ill they have to be hospitalized. This year's earlier than usual flu season proves the U.S. flu vaccine program needs immediate attention. Simply put, we need to make sure the supply meets the demand and we need to do a better job of tracking flu cases during the peak season of December to March.

Influenza has been attributed to several deaths in this early season, including a young woman from the

Charleston, W.Va., area. Even though the flu is not often associated with death, it can prove deadly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza - combined with complications such as pneumonia -kills about 36,000 Americans a year. It ranks among the top 10 leading causes

of death.

Therefore, it is imperative drug makers supply enough vaccines to meet the demand - especially for those most at risk such as young children, the elderly and those with medical conditions.

This year's vaccine was formulated to combat flu strains other than Fujian A, which has been the dominant strain. However, scientists say the vaccine will offer at least some protection and reduce the severity of illness. Health officials should push for advances to devise closer matches between the vaccine and each winter's dominant flu strain.

While we have not yet reached a pandemic state, such as the 1918-19 Spanish Influenza that killed 21 million worldwide and 500,000 in the United States. Experts say we're overdue for a pandemic.

People who have not yet been vaccinated should go ahead and do so. Even though supplies are dwindling, health care facilities in Lawrence County and the Tri-State have some vaccines left. If you act now, you will likely be able to get vaccinated, but if you wait much longer, it may be too late.