In the latest Vaccine Smarts column by UTMB’s Dr. Richard Rupp and Bridget Hawkins: The 2009 pandemic flu came from pigs and that is why it was first known as the “swine flu.” It was re-branded as the Novel H1N1 flu because of religious and commercial concerns surrounding pork. Most of the severe flu cases including those that have caused deaths this season have been caused by the 2009 pandemic strain. This strain is covered in flu vaccines. Protect yourself and your family. It isn’t too late to get vaccinated.