WHO experts: Single dose swine flu vaccine enough

October 30th, 2009

Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
FRANK JORDANS
The Associated Press

GENEVA – A single dose of swine flu vaccine is enough to immunize adults and children over 10 against the pandemic strain, the World Health Organization said Friday.
The global body’s expert group , known as SAGE , said that while more data on children between 6 months and 10 years [...]

PA health officials will provide H1N1 vaccine update today

October 29th, 2009

The briefing will take place at 11:00 a.m. in the state Capitol media center.

A swine flu update

October 28th, 2009

The U.S. may end up discarding unused swine flu vaccine (!?)
Bucks County has changed its swine flu strategy.
York County has received its first vaccines.
Clinton County is planning big swine flu clinics.
Northeastern PA residents are getting more worried.
The number of  cases in Venango County has tripled in the past week.

Anxious Crowds Meet Ad Hoc Swine Flu Police

October 28th, 2009

The H1N1 is high demand creating long lines all across the country. People who are low risk are being told to go home or to wait until more of the vaccine is avaiable. The current goal is to get high risk Americans the vaccine but this is tough because people will say anything to get the vaccine.

LOS ANGELES — The top public health official in Los Angeles County stood at a swine flu vaccination site in Compton, Calif., on Tuesday and gently told elderly residents that they really ought to go home.

“I explained to people 65 or older, ‘The reason we are doing this is for children,’ ” said the official, Jonathan E. Fielding, the director of the county’s Department of Public Health. “I told them: ‘They are at very high risk for this flu, and you’re at low risk. I am sure you wouldn’t want to get a shot that left a kid who is at risk in harm’s way.’ ”

People have lined up in Southern California and across the country in recent days in the hope of getting a prick in the arm, but a dearth of the H1N1 vaccine has created an unexpected dynamic: local government officials, hospital workers and doctors in private practice are being conscripted as ad hoc swine flu police.

The goal is to make sure that those Americans with the highest risk for contracting the virus — and experiencing the more dangerous complications that can ensue — get injected first. But the somewhat willy-nilly nature of the vaccine’s distribution in some areas, publicity surrounding President Obama’s declaration of a national emergency and the rather large population legitimately considered high risk have brought hundreds of thousands of people to vaccine distribution points.

Some people beg. Some reduce themselves to lying about a pregnancy, or an underlying medical condition, that would move them ahead of the pack. In any case, officials say it is virtually impossible to verify most of the claims.

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Posted on Oct 28 2009 under Government, Healthcare Issues
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A PA swine flu update

October 27th, 2009

Here’s what’s happening with “THE SWINE” in PA:
Most hospitals in the Lehigh Valley aren’t allowing visitors under the age of 18, or visitors who show signs of illness.
Chester County Hospital won’t allow visitors ages 16 and under.
Berks County is trying to get more vaccines.
Yesterday, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh saw 300 patients with swine flu symptoms.

Why you might be having trouble getting a swine flu vaccine

October 26th, 2009

Due to a few mistakes made by the vaccine manufacturers, there is a shortage of swine flu vaccine.

A swine flu round-up

October 23rd, 2009

The Lehigh Valley is starting to receive its swine flu vaccinations.
Swine flu cases have jumped in Venango, Crawford, Jefferson and Mercer Counties.
The state has changed its swine flu vaccine distribution plan.
Lebanon County is planning its swine flu clinics.
So is Westmoreland County.
Some hospitals are restricting children from visiting patients.

Hospitals worrying that ERs will become clogged with flu sufferers

October 21st, 2009

They also fear that if people infected with swine flu come to the ER, the virus will spread throughout the hospital.

Kids under 10 years old probably need 2 doses of swine flu vaccine

October 15th, 2009

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the news is not surprising, since this age group needs two doses of regular seasonal flu vaccine for full immunity to develop, reports the Associated Press.

Posted on Oct 15 2009 under HealthPointPA News
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Widely-used face masks do little to prevent swine flu

October 15th, 2009

Effective face masks are actually respirators that are more expensive, uncomfortable, and must be fitted individually.