Before we get into more details, let’s check some pertinent and important facts. Influenza A (H1N1) virus is basically a subtype of influenzavirus A and is also the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all human flu infections in 2006.

By now almost the whole of United States of America has become vulnerable to the spate of H1N1 and hence, the search for an ideal antidote has been long. Perhaps Americans can have a sigh of relief, at the moment, as the coveted H1N1 nasal spray vaccine has arrived at several Nashville-area hospitals and health departments. However, some facts must be taken into consideration. For the moment, the vaccine is only for health-care workers.

In this context, an infectious disease doctor at Baptist Hospital was among the first health-care workers Wednesday to step up, take a deep breath and offer up his nostrils for the swine flu vaccine. “Somebody had to be the first,” said Dr. Mark Carr, medical director of the infectious disease prevention program at Baptist. “There is an exaggerated concern of the potential risks associated with the vaccine. There seems to be more concern (with the H1N1 vaccine), even though data so far has not borne that out.”

As per the state health department, in Tennessee 23 people have died from the H1N1 virus — 16 adults and seven children. “This is so we can be sure we’re here,” Carr said. “We will make sure the vaccine goes to critical groups who take care of patients.”

It is to be noted that Baptist Hospital received 200 doses of the FluMist this week, in conjunction with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which got 1,000 doses, and the Metro Nashville Health Department, which expects to have about 4,900 doses by Friday.