Swine Flu and H1N1 Vaccinations

What do you bet most Dr's will still make the elderly get the vaccine.??

I will damned sure get it, and so will Noah and Quinn. I think chidren, people with a compromised immunity, people with asthma and elderly should all get it.

Just heard on the early evening news that the highest risk is to pregnant women! Ladies, take heed! Other countries, it was said, are telling their pregnant women to stay home and not go anywhere. Some are telling their young women to prevent getting pregnant this year. There is a higher percentage of death in young pregnant women so far than any other group, owing to an immune type of situation that exists during pregnancy.

The pattern that weve seen with this flu is that younger people are at higher risk for death. the elderly seem to have some immunity to it.

Here is the link to abc news about pregnant women at higher risk of death from swineflu than other populations:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Politics/story?id=8194314&page=1

Total U.S. Novel H1N1 Flu Hospitalizations and DeathsPosted July 31, 2009, 11:00 AM ETData reported to CDC by July 30, 2009, 11:00 AM ET

47	5,514	353
*Includes the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The number of hospitalized novel H1N1 cases and deaths presented in this table are an aggregate of reports received by CDC from U.S. states and territories and will be updated weekly each Friday at 11am. For state level information, refer to state health departments. CDC discontinued reporting of individual confirmed and probable cases of novel H1N1 infection on July 24, 2009. CDC will report the total number of hospitalizations and deaths weekly, and continue to use its traditional surveillance systems to track the progress of the novel H1N1 flu outbreak. For more information about CDC’s novel H1N1 influenza surveillance system, see Questions & Answers About CDC's Novel H1N1 Influenza Surveillance. International Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection See: World Health Organization.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm#totalcases

Things are changing. From what I can gather you have to go to your individual state to get the stats now. I will continue to look - if anyone finds anything different - let us know.

I am venting here so forgive, this really pisses me off. If they cannot keep up with it anymore then this tells me it is getting larger than we really know. What are your thoughts?

I think that they will keep the stats, but they wont update daily like they have been. they keep stats on all the diseases, and there are alot worldwide, this is not the only one.

i dont have a problem with them not updating daily. for me, it doesnt matter whether 10,000 people have it or 20,000 people, the point is, its growing, and the stat now is that 40% of people will get it this winter, that is predicted. thats all i need to know. so get prepared. get your finances in order, your health insurance, come up with a family plan, who will stay home with the kids, a quaranteen plan, and of course, a will. buy your masks, hand sanitizer etc. change your diet, eat well excercise, give yourself the best chances you can. at this point, the numbers arent going to help you, but coming up with a plan will.

Ouch! Early flu shot season comes with 3 jabs

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer – 31 mins ago
ATLANTA – Get ready to roll up your sleeve three times for flu shots this fall. That's right, three times. This year's flu season is shaping up to be a very different one. Most people will need one shot for the regular seasonal flu and probably two others to protect against the new swine flu.

Experts suggest you get that first shot as early as this month — if you can find it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090806/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu_shots

If you get a shot early in the season like Atlanta people are be sure to get a booster in 3 months. I loved Juanita's "our scientist" suggestions. Please be prepared with a plan. Stay home if your sick. Common courtesy can keep people healthier too.

So I called my GP's office today and asked them if they had the first of the three shots needed as per the Yahoo article. No, they do not and they know nothing about 3 shots. They said they will NOT have the flu vaccine in their office until "probably" October.

:?: :scratch: :idk:

I say,
I started this thread, because I worry,

and now

I worry a bit for all of us==== here!

be well,
lj

51 U.S. Troops in Iraq Diagnosed With Swine Flu


BAGHDAD — Fifty-one American troops in Iraq have been diagnosed with and treated for swine flu, while another 71 soldiers remain in isolation suspected of contracting the potentially deadly virus, the U.S. military said Sunday.



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,538641,00.html?test=latestnews

World population projected to reach 7 billion in 2011

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/12/world.population/index.html

I wonder if this is after the swine flu? :evil:

One of the women I work w/ her son has swine flu. should I be worried? (she is pregnant) but my major concern is for me.

Thanks.

P.S. I know this sounds evil - but you have no idea who I work w/.

If I have a family member at home who is sick with novel H1N1 flu, should I go to work?
Employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with novel H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day, and take everyday precautions including washing their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.* If they become ill, they should notify their supervisor and stay home. Employees who have an underlying medical condition or who are pregnant should call their health care provider for advice, because they might need to receive influenza antiviral drugs to prevent illness.

Oops lost the link, anyhow found this somewhere on CDC. So I will try to remain calm and overload my body w/ vitamins and holistic health stuff. gosh!!!!!!

Heard on the news today that the vaccines might start to be distributed in September. Thanks for your efforts to keep us posted on this threat throughout the summer. Soon we will have entered into the dreaded 2009 flu season that we all fear.

TerryRose wrote:Heard on the news today that the vaccines might start to be distributed in September. Thanks for your efforts to keep us posted on this threat throughout the summer. Soon we will have entered into the dreaded 2009 flu season that we all fear.

It is scary, should we just all stay home all Fall and Winter?? It's almost like your damned if you do, damned if you don't. I don't think we should be down-right paranoid but just very health conscious.

One positive test in Pella Iowa. A virus strain is already at my house. It is to early for this. I work in the medical field and I can tell you that we are working on a plan. Best laid plans fail. After what I saw today at work everyone better get prepared for this. I am truly scared. Looks like it will be a lot like the Asian flu from the 1950's. There are going to be many deaths before natural immunities start to kick in for people. Anti viral drugs are going to be in short supply. The government is preparing to release many more anti viral drugs nationwide. I am sick and going to bed for the night very shortly.

just keep your hands washed, dont touch your mouth nose eyes or ears and cover your mouth when you sneeze

i'll tell you this though. you can order just about anything online and have it delivered to your home.

We have had many other scares in my lifetime and all pretty much came out well. I hope that this is another one of those.
The 1918 flu took lives all over the world and yet how many of us lost an ancestor because of it? I know that 2 of mine had it and got really sick but lived through it and died at very old ages. I wonder if the toll of death wasn't due to a world population that basically lacked complete good nutrition and were not in good health to begin with, beside the fact that there wasn't much medicine of any kind at the time that actually cured anything or relieved symptoms. Like I say, we lost no one in the family, but we lost plenty of ancestors due to widespread TB for which there was no cure.

When I was young, there were no vaccines for polio and our parents worried every summer, scaring us because of the images of those afflicted laying in their iron lungs. We didn't get it and then we got the polio shots and all was well, but my girlfriend got leukemia and died.

We drilled at school constantly for the atomic attack from the Soviet Union. People built bomb shelters and mothers took courses in civil emergencies learning how to clean radioactive contaminated water to drink, etc. Well, Russia never attacked but we almost had a nuclear catastrophe when Three Mile Island almost had a meltdown.

I could go on and on about all the impending dooms that scared me in my lifetime but you get the point. I will be nervous about my family this year and probably worried over each case of flu I hear about, but let us hope it is not going to be what we all fear right now that it will be. I will do more than hope, I will pray.

Juanita wrote:i'll tell you this though. you can order just about anything online and have it delivered to your home.

I know they give you Tamiflu - what can you order online??

I have an autoimmune disorder..if I get sick (and have had horrible allergies all Summer) I get really sick. This scares me but I am more scared for my little Noah and Quinn. I am old - they aren't!!

Linda Marie, please get your rest. I am so sorry you are sick!!!

I went to the doc yesterday and asked her about the swine flu shots. She said noone has them yet but they MAY get them in September. She said you have to take two shots for the swine flu and still take the regular flu shot. Also, it is good to have a pneumonia shot once every 5 years. Just a heads up.

Swine flu: 10 things you need to know

ATLANTA – Since it first emerged in April, the global swine flu epidemic has sickened more than 1 million Americans and killed about 500. It's also spread around the world, infecting tens of thousands and killing nearly 2,000.

This summer, the virus has been surprisingly tenacious in the U.S., refusing to fade away as flu viruses usually do. And health officials predict a surge of cases this fall, perhaps very soon as schools reopen.

A White House report from an expert panel suggests that from 30 percent to half the population could catch swine flu during the course of this pandemic and that from 30,000 to 90,000 could die.

So how worried should you be and how do you prepare? The Associated Press has tried to boil down the mass of information into 10 things you should know to be flu-savvy.

1. No cause for panic.

So far, swine flu isn't much more threatening than regular seasonal flu.

During the few months of this new flu's existence, hospitalizations and deaths from it seem to be lower than the average seen for seasonal flu, and the virus hasn't dramatically mutated. That's what health officials have observed in the Southern Hemisphere where flu season is now winding down.

Still, more people are susceptible to swine flu and U.S. health officials are worried because it hung in so firmly here during the summer — a time of year the flu usually goes away.

2. Virus tougher on some.

Swine flu is more of a threat to certain groups — children under 2, pregnant women, people with health problems like asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Teens and young adults are also more vulnerable to swine flu.

Ordinary, seasonal flu hits older people the hardest, but not swine flu. Scientists think older people may have some immunity from exposure years earlier to viruses similar to swine flu.

3. Wash your hands often and long.

Like seasonal flu, swine flu spreads through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick. Emphasize to children that they should wash with soap and water long enough to finish singing the alphabet song, "Now I know my ABC's..." Also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

4. Get the kids vaccinated.

These groups should be first in line for swine flu shots, especially if vaccine supplies are limited — people 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women, health care workers.

Also a priority: Parents and caregivers of infants, people with those high-risk medical conditions previously noted.

5. Get your shots early.

Millions of swine flu shots should be available by October. If you are in one of the priority groups, try to get your shot as early as possible.

Check with your doctor or local or state health department about where to do this. Many children should be able to get vaccinated at school. Permission forms will be sent home in advance.

6. Immunity takes awhile.

Even those first in line for shots won't have immunity until around Thanksgiving.

That's because it's likely to take two shots, given three weeks apart, to provide protection. And it takes a week or two after the last shot for the vaccine to take full effect.

The regular seasonal flu shot should be widely available in September. People over 50 are urged to be among the first to get that shot.

7. Vaccines are being tested.

Health officials presume the swine flu vaccine is safe and effective, but they're testing it to make sure.

The federal government has begun studies in eight cities across the country to assess its effectiveness and figure out the best dose. Vaccine makers are doing their own tests as well.

8. Help! Surrounded by swine flu.

If an outbreak of swine flu hits your area before you're vaccinated, be extra cautious.

Stay away from public gathering places like malls, sports events and churches. Try to keep your distance from people in general. Keep washing those hands and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.

9. What if you get sick?

If you have other health problems or are pregnant and develop flu-like symptoms, call your doctor right away. You may be prescribed Tamiflu or Relenza. These drugs can reduce the severity of swine flu if taken right after symptoms start.

If you develop breathing problems (rapid breathing for kids), pain in your chest, constant vomiting or a fever that keeps rising, go to an emergency room.

Most people, though, should just stay home and rest. Cough into your elbow or shoulder. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks. Fluids and pain relievers like Tylenol can help with achiness and fever. Always check with a doctor before giving children any medicines. Adult cold and flu remedies are not for them.

10. No swine flu from barbecue.

You can't catch swine flu from pork — or poultry either (even though it recently turned up in turkeys in Chile). Swine flu is not spread by handling meat, whether it's raw or cooked.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090901/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu10_things;_ylt=AqQvxqVvyz45oLDZUc8Uy0fBF4l4;_ylu=X3oDMTJzdWpvZmFwBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwOTAxL3VzX21lZF9zd2luZV9mbHUxMF90aGluZ3MEY3BvcwMzBHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDc3dpbmVmbHUxMHRo

Wrap,
Thx,
FYI for all, I have not been here because there is not reporting anymore. I think if there is nothing............

One of our city schools closed today because of the flu until after the holiday.

I feel overwhelmed here. I have to work and take care of things. I wished I had to time check on every state but I do not. Forgive me, but this flu/situation is bigger than I can be for each of you right now.

lv to all of you
lj

P.S. it is getting much POPULAR w/ my local news now.

Thank you, Wrap, for your latest post, a must-read for coping with the beginning of the flu season and the possible start of Swine flu. Ladyj, don't feel bad about not having the time. I am sure we will all be hearing much about it on the TV news from here on because they know the season has begun and it will be top news once again. Thank you both.

on today's local and national TV news:
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Health officials in Ohio said a 20-year-old pregnant woman has died of swine flu.

The woman's baby was delivered prior to her death Thursday at a Columbus hospital, and officials say the baby is doing well. No other details about the woman were released.

Ohio Health Department spokesman Kristopher Weiss said pregnant women who get any type of flu are at risk for serious complications.

A vaccine to protect against swine flu is expected to be available this fall.

Thursday's death is the third swine flu death in Ohio. Two others were reported in June (and this is the first we have heard about them)-- a man who died in Butler County and a woman who died in Cuyahoga County. It was said that this woman died following childbirth on the local news.

Through Aug. 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 556 swine flu deaths in the U.S. and 8,800 hospitalizations.

That is horrible!!! I wonder if the baby also has swine flu?? 20 years old?? I fear this is just the beginning.

I saw my oncologist today and his nurse said everyone MAY have the vaccine available by the middle of September.

New local case in the schools----sorry to say the flu season we dread looks like it has begun in the state of Ohio. Here is the Link: http://www.fox8.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=ee83f635-08c7-4b13-8bbc-a1605cce7328&src=front

featured interview in the news today of the family of the 18 year old mom who died from Swineflu never having seen her baby---a note of interest is that the hospital treating her never tested her for H1N1 and the father of the baby now laments the fact that he never insisted upon them testing her for it and maybe it could have made a difference for her. They have found out by examining autopsy tissues only because another pregnant family member has symptoms now. Who knows if it would have made a difference in the woman's outcome? My point for reporting this is to point out that we will not know, even if hospitalized, if we have this strain of flu since they will be hardly testing anybody for it to find out. In this case, they had her on a ventilator in an induced coma, removed the baby (who is healthy as of now), she died while in their care, and they didn't even run the test.

Terry Rose, is the H1N1 a blood test?? IMO, pregnant women, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immunity should have this test - ESPECIALLY pregnant women..it should be mandatory!!

Waste, HUGE waste!!

Wrap, just from prior experience with taking care of people with serious infections, I would answer you to the best of my knowledge.

I would think it would be done by a specimen of sputum (phlegm coughed up or aspirated). A blood test is used for bacterial blood infections (sepsis), not respiratory infections to my knowledge. Upper respiratory infections do not usually culture in the blood specimen, thank goodness, meaning we don't get dangerous sepsis usually from our colds and flus.

I ask the RNs among us here for their take on your question---I know there is at least one in our group.

Thanks, Terry Rose. That makes sense!!

2,600 suspected cases of swine flu (H1N1) reported at Washington State University
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thursday, September 10th 2009, 11:15 AM

WSU.eduThe Washington State University campus in Pullman, Wash. has reported that 2,600 individuals have contacted health and wellness services with flu-like symptoms. A large outbreak of swine flu is showing no sign of abating at Washington State University.

School officials had been waiting to see if the incidence of the ailment would ease after the Labor Day long weekend, when the numbers dropped with many students leaving campus for the break. But Health and Wellness Services reported 169 students contacted them Tuesday to report symptoms consistent with swine flu — similar to the daily numbers reported last week.

"We have no evidence yet to indicate if numbers will remain consistent or change," WSU said in a press release.

About 2,600 students have contacted Health and Wellness Services with flu-like symptoms since school began in late August.

While the numbers seem alarming, WSU officials caution that no one has been hospitalized, with most of the victims already recovered and back in class.

Health and Wellness Associate Medical Director Dennis Garcia said officials expect anywhere 5,400 to 9,000 members of the WSU community to be infected with the virus, based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Washington State has about 18,000 students, and several thousand faculty and staff.

Garcia said health officials don't expect the virus to mutate and become a more serious illness. So far, all the cases have been mild, lasting three to five days.

Student Daniel Renz said he is not concerned.

"I'm not worried about going to class," he said. "Until someone dies, I (won't) be worried."

Any person who calls Health and Wellness to report flu-like symptoms is counted as a swine flu case at WSU. People who call are advised to stay home, treat symptoms and drink fluids. Doctors have actually seen only about 500 students, and no one is being tested for swine flu. Under CDC guidelines, university health officials are treating all cases under the assumption that they are H1N1.

Officials at colleges around the nation have been anticipating large numbers of flu cases this fall because swine flu targets young people and thrives in the tight living quarters common on college campuses, said Paula Adams, community coordinator for WSU Health and Wellness Services.

Washington State started classes on Aug. 24, much earlier than most schools.


Picturesque Washington State University... Germ City?

It sounds like they are reporting this outbreak as Swine flu without anyone testing to see if it is. It sounds like it is just the regular seasonal flu, no?

Could be terryrose. I think that makes the numbers off when they are not testing everyone. I also think they are so busy trying to down play this that people will die that don't seek treatment because they think it is no big deal.

lindamarie wrote:Could be terryrose. I think that makes the numbers off when they are not testing everyone. I also think they are so busy trying to down play this that people will die that don't seek treatment because they think it is no big deal.

You are right, LM! This has been the case with so very many threats to our wellbeing unfortunately ever since I can remember. BTW, I like your new pic.

Thank you. I thought it was time to update it.

How can they track this if they are not testing for it. I remember being very sick last spring. Katie and I had all the symptoms. My family Dr wrote me a note for work. The note said "can not rule out swine flu". I asked him if he was going to swap us. He said no the CDC is swamped and they asked physicians to not send any more samples. I don't think that is a good way to keep track of it. How do we know if we have had it? Can we get it more than once or are we immune after we have it? Juanita thoughts please?

first exposure to flu provides partial immunity for subsequent infections because flu mutates very quickly. it wont be immune for life after you get it like chickenpox, so you are expected to get it year after year, but it will be milder. according to the death rates, this flu is hitting younger people harder because they may not have had exposure to any swine flu before. older people most likely have been exposed.

its true the CDC is swamped but the doctor failed to say that the CDC is actually asking each individual state to take over the testing, the CDC has provided every state the test kits.

I dont think you should worry too much UNLESS you are pregnant, yu have a history of obesity, asthma, repiratory illness. Just stay home, take great care and cover your mouth etc. stay hydrated.For you lindamarie, if you dont have any of the above, you are in the best situation. if you are already sick, the vaccine woont work on you.

for all you others, plan to get vaccinated asap, it will take about 10 days for the vaccine to kick in.

i havent decided whether to get myself vaccinated or not. its a personal decision.

by the way, you should know, we are working on this flu in our laboratory, but not under complete isolation. laboratory protection follows several levels.. SARS, bird flu are BSL3 level, which is basically, not one moleculuel leaves the lab, and the worker wears a full suit with respirator tank. the swine flu virus is being worked on under BSL2+ level, which is below BSL3 but extra precaution for the worker is done. This level is still not required, BSL2 regular is adequate. So, there is a chance(small) that some of us will be exposed her at work, but i think we have a greater chance of getting it outside of work. FYI

So Katie being almost 4 should get a immunization for swine flu in addition to her flu shot? My daughter is in the high risk group to. She will be 21. She better not be pregnant however. Juanita one more question. Is fever above 100 always to be expected with swine flu?

expect a fever with just about any infection including all types of flu.

your body determines the fever, it is a response, not the flu.

i DONT know if they are recommending getting both flu shots, you gotta ask them that

Thanks Juanita

big hug! dont nobody get sick!!! wash your nasty hands!

My GP told me that the swine flu shot is two shots you get w/in one week of each other..then you still have to get the regular flu shot. She said in her opinion, Everyone should get all three - but especially pregnant women, the elderly or anyone with a compromised immunity. I think no matter how healthy you are, please get these shots.

In this morning's newspaper, it said that they are finding in their clinical trials that only one shot is conferring immunity and that 2 may not be necessary. It doesn't sound like they know for sure yet though what they will be doing.

my rhummi and internist both told me NOT to get the swine flu shot. I am taking immunosuppressent meds for my lupus but they both say I will be fine even if I were to get this flu.....I will trust their judgement.

Oh, Laga..I know of Lupus. I have several gf's that have it. Seems to be a female thing. Another autoimmune disorder. And, I think you are relatively young. I am so sorry. You strike me as a very, very strong gal!!! :cheers:

Flu season comes early; most are swine variety

WASHINGTON – Influenza is circulating unusually early this year with cases in all 50 states — nearly all the swine flu variety, government health officials said Friday.

The highest concentration of flu cases is in the Southeast and a few other states, Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at a briefing.

The good news is that testing of vaccines for swine flu show that they work with a single dose and take effect rapidly.

Supplies of swine flu vaccine are expected to be available in mid-October, but the seasonal flu vaccine is available now and officials have encouraged people to get it.

The H1N1 swine flu broke out in the spring and never went away, Schuchat said. It struck in many summer camps, spread into the Southern Hemisphere and now is widening its range. Currently 98 percent of the flu viruses circulating are swine flu.

Cases are mainly occurring in children and young adults, Schuchat said.

The finding that the swine flu vaccine works in a single dose in healthy adults "shortens the window of worry," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. "There's no better protection against the flu than vaccine."

There had been concerns that it would take two doses to build up immunity, delaying the protection.

While the single dose works in adults, testing is still under way to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine in children and pregnant women, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

He said the tested vaccines were made by Sanofi Pasteur and CSL Ltd. and both produced "robust" immune responses.

In people aged 18 to 64, 96 percent had a strong response to the Sanofi version and the response was 80 percent for CSL. Fauci played down the difference, noting the tests were done after only eight to 10 days and immune response could be the same in both groups as it increases after that point.

In addition, there were no significant side effects, Fauci said.

People over 65 did not respond as strongly, but still got enough of an immune reaction that they should seek out the shots when their turn comes, officials said.

First on the list for the swine flu shots, however, are children and young adults, pregnant women and others with health problems, since the H1N1 flu seems to strike them more often.

Older people are more at risk from the regular seasonal flu and — along with other people — should get those shots now, Sebelius said.

She noted she got her own seasonal flu shot Friday at a school in nearby Alexandria, Va.

Why bother with the seasonal shot, since nearly all the current flu cases are swine flu?

"The fact that the (seasonal) virus is not circulating now is absolutely no reason not to get vaccinated," Fauci said. "You would hope that you would get vaccinated before the seasonal flu is circulating so you will have an immune response."

Fauci said it still appears the bulk of the swine flu vaccine will be available in mid-October, though there is a possibility some may be available sooner, "we hope."

"The disease is increasing already and it is still a bit of a race to get the vaccine out there ahead of the disease," Schuchat said.

Even with the swine flu spreading now there will still be plenty of need for the vaccine, the officials stressed.

One dose means tight supplies of H1N1 vaccine won't be stretched so thin after all. The U.S. has ordered 195 million doses, based on the hope that 15 micrograms was indeed the right dose. Had it taken twice that dosage, or two shots apiece, half as many people could have received the vaccine.

The CDC reported Friday that last week influenza was widespread in Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Guam. Only New Hampshire and Rhode Island had no flu cases last week.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_med_swine_flu