Many Americans are worried about the 2009 H1N1 virus, and many of you are still waiting your turn to be vaccinated. Like you, I am deeply saddened by the illness and death caused by the H1N1 flu. And as a mother, I understand the frustration and anxiety parents feel when they cannot find vaccine for their children, and all of us feel when our expectations exceed our options.

Like the flu itself, flu vaccine production can be unpredictable. We expected to have significantly larger quantities by now, but, due to a host of factors, vaccine production has been slower than anyone expected. Still, our clear focus is to get safe, effective vaccine to the people who need it as quickly as possible.

When the first H1N1 vaccine arrived ahead of schedule in early October—in record time — we made the decision to get it to communities so they could begin to administer it, even though we knew there would initially be a small number of doses. While millions of doses have now been distributed, many more Americans are still waiting. I would ask people to please be patient. More is coming.

President Obama ordered an aggressive, all-hands-on-deck response from the moment this virus first appeared last spring. Since then we have not let up and we have seen strong bipartisan support for our efforts. We enhanced our national vaccine safety monitoring system to ensure we can rapidly identify any signals that arise; we developed a new system to support the largest-ever state and local distribution of vaccine; and we released antiviral drugs from the national stockpile to help get people the medicine they need, when they need it.

Earlier this fall we also launched a new Web site —

www.flu.gov

— to provide the latest information on the flu. Flu.gov includes a self-evaluation survey to help you check your symptoms and make a decision about seeking treatment; a vaccine locator to help you find where and when to get vaccinated, and other information on protecting yourself and your family. Americans across the country have stepped up to meet the challenges posed by the H1N1 virus and are working together to prevent the spread of the flu. You can see them washing their hands, coughing in their sleeves, staying at home when they’re sick, and, yes, standing in line for a vaccination.

Every day we are learning critical lessons that we have already begun applying to future planning. But right now, our highest priority is responding to the current outbreak and protecting Americans’ health.

So if you’ve stood in a line, were frustrated and left, please consider coming back as more vaccine becomes available. Check out flu.gov for more information about where and when vaccine will be in your community. And in the meantime, please don’t forget to keep doing all the things that can keep you and your community healthy and flu-free. Together, we can fight H1N1.

Kathleen Sebelius is U. S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.