HEALTH: More H1N1 deaths likely

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Even though the H1N1 flu virus has peaked in Rhode Island, health officials said during a Wednesday briefing they expect to see more deaths from the disease.

The briefing came Wednesday afternoon; one day after health officials confirmed H1N1 killed two more Rhode Islanders this week . The latest victims were women, between the ages of 45 and 55, with underlying medical conditions.

Since Sept. 1, seven people have died, including two children and five adults, and 180 have been hospitalized due to the H1N1 flu virus.

The H1N1 vaccine arrived in Rhode Island five weeks ago. Since then, health officials have vaccinated 100,000 children and pregnant women. Health director Dr. David Gifford said his department started with children because they're the group most likely to spread disease.

(See the H1N1 flu germ guide)

However, adults with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, have had to wait and likely won't have the chance to get vaccinated until possibly next year.

"I think it's very frustrating that we don't have enough vaccine to vaccinate all the high-priority groups all at once," Gifford said. "If we had gotten enough vaccine, we would've done a different campaign and done it differently."

The delay could have a dire outcome for some. There are a number of patients in Intensive Care Units throughout the state with flu-like symptoms and Gifford said more deaths are expected.

"We will most likely have some more deaths in Rhode Island. How many more, I don't know," he said. "The faster we get vaccine out, the more people follow the precautions, the fewer we'll have.