VIDEO: Pediatrician discusses swine flu

"If the vaccination was available in June, it could have prevented this," Erica Neves, the mother of 3-year-old Joshua, said at a news conference yesterday at the state Health Department. "Our son was healthy. He was a healthy, strong boy."

Joshua was the first and only child to die in the Islands from swine flu.

He had no pre-existing conditions.

There have also been 10 adult swine flu-related deaths in Hawai'i.

Max Neves, Joshua's father, told parents they shouldn't wait to get the swine flu vaccine for their kids.

"I think the most important thing is to help someone, anyone, who can benefit from our story," he said tearfully.

Swine flu has hit children particularly hard. More than 3,900 people across the country, including about 540 kids under 18, have died from swine flu since April, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said.

Yesterday, state health officials said the flu season is far from over. And, though swine flu has not been as widespread in Hawai'i as it has been on the Mainland, they said that could change in the coming weeks — especially as tourists and relatives arrive for the holidays or as people gather for celebrations.

Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist for the Health Department, said that the number of swine flu cases in Hawai'i appears to be remaining "steady." The state Health Department no longer counts the number of those who get sick, but does monitor doctors' offices through a surveillance program meant to track trends.

Park added there are continuing concerns about making sure that the limited supply of vaccine gets to those in priority groups, including children, health care workers and those who have chronic conditions. She added that though the vaccine is in short supply, there are ways for parents to get the vaccine for their kids.

For example, pharmacies still have vaccines available, but some only have versions of the vaccine made with live, weakened H1N1 flu virus. Park said some parents appear to be hesitant about giving that version of the vaccine to kids. But she stressed that it is safe.

VACCINE ALLOCATION

Park also said the Health Department is trying to get more doses of vaccine to pediatricians. This week, the Health Department offered 360 providers 50 doses each of the vaccine. As of yesterday, however, only 176 had picked them up.

Park also said that a significant portion of the 73,800 doses the state ordered yesterday for delivery late this week and early next week will go to pediatricians.

The state has been allocated 266,400 doses of the vaccine so far.

The CDC determines each state's allocation based on its population.

It's still unclear how many children in Hawai'i have been vaccinated against H1N1.

The Health Department said that providers have sent in required vaccine information to the state on 36,255 doses, or about 25 percent of all the vaccine that has been distributed. Of those doses, about 16 percent went to children under 5. About 29 percent went to kids 5 to 17.

JOSHUA'S STORY

The parents of 3-year-old Joshua, who died June 19, said they understand parents may have concerns about the new H1N1 vaccine, but they urged parents to listen to Health Department officials who say that the vaccine is safe for children.

"The vaccination is one more layer of protection," said Erica Neves.

The couple's 18-month-old daughter has been vaccinated.

Neves and her husband broke down several times as they talked about their son.

Joshua, the Kaimukí couple said, was a playful, outgoing kid who loved Spiderman. On the morning of June 18, he woke up with a fever, but had no severe symptoms, his mother said. In the early afternoon, though, his mother found him unresponsive in the family's living room. He was rushed to the hospital.

The next afternoon, he died. The city Medical Examiner determined three months later that Joshua had died of "acute respiratory distress" from swine flu.

"It's been so tough," said Max Neves. "We hope people act upon our story."