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H1N1 flu cases surge across California as doctors report vaccine shortage<!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_headline_preview" END -->
By Rong-Gong Lin II and Thomas H. Maugh II<!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_byline_preview" END --> <!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_titleline_preview" START -->Los Angeles Times Staff Writer<!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_titleline_preview" END --> <!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_display_time_preview" START -->October 22, 200
H1N1 flu cases are surging all across California with hospitals seeing an increase in admissions for the first time in weeks even as doctors are reporting vaccine shortages, the state's health officer said today.
"We, like everyone across the country, are seeing lower than expected" deliveries of vaccine for both the seasonal and H1N1 strains, said Dr. Mark Horton, state health officer. "As a result, we have some disappointed and frustrated providers out there who have not received vaccine in a timely manner."
Horton urged doctors and the public to be patient, saying the federal government expects there will be more than enough vaccine for those considered at highest risk for infection, which include toddlers, children, teenagers, young adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic health problems. Because infants under 6 months cannot be vaccinated, parents and caregivers are asked to be inoculated.
Just 1.7 million doses of H1N1 inoculations have been delivered to California out of 20 million expected this season. On Wednesday, federal officials said vaccine supplies have been delayed because the swine flu strain does not grow in eggs as rapidly as the seasonal flu virus does, thereby limiting the amount of protein that is available for inclusion in a vaccine.
A federal official said Wednesday that despite repeated inquiries, the vaccine manufacturers did not tell the government about the delay until about Oct. 12.
California is now seeing the number of flu cases typically seen during the peak of a regular flu season, Horton said. Nearly 6% of patients being seen by physicians are reporting flu-like illness, which is higher than last week's percentage of 5%.
Normally, at this time of year, just 2% of patients seen at doctor's offices report flu-like illness. The estimates are based from a network of 90 sentinel physicians who report numbers to the state Department of Public Health.
After several weeks, hospitalizations due to the flu increased for the first time last week, Horton said. Still, reports coming to the state indicate that hospital emergency rooms overall have so far been able to handle the load of flu patients, Horton said.
Researchers from Purdue University wrote in the journal Eurosurveillance last week that a mathematical model of the swine flu pandemic predicts the disease will peak this week. But federal officials warn that a second, larger wave of infections could arrive after Jan. 1.
With vaccine supply limited, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the release of about 25 million N95 respirators, or half of the state's stockpile of the tightly fitting masks that have been shown to protect wearers from breathing in flu virus from ill patients. They also help prevent doctors and nurses from getting the flu.
The masks are being distributed to local health departments in order to prevent shortages among health care workers, especially those who work at hospitals.
Prior to today, two counties have already requested N95 masks--San Diego and Plumas County in the Sierra Nevada area.
Horton also said that health officials feel "very confident" that the swine flu vaccine is as safe as the regular flu inoculation. Both are made the same way.<!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_body_preview" END -->
By Rong-Gong Lin II and Thomas H. Maugh II<!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_byline_preview" END --> <!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_titleline_preview" START -->Los Angeles Times Staff Writer<!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_titleline_preview" END --> <!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_display_time_preview" START -->October 22, 200
H1N1 flu cases are surging all across California with hospitals seeing an increase in admissions for the first time in weeks even as doctors are reporting vaccine shortages, the state's health officer said today.
"We, like everyone across the country, are seeing lower than expected" deliveries of vaccine for both the seasonal and H1N1 strains, said Dr. Mark Horton, state health officer. "As a result, we have some disappointed and frustrated providers out there who have not received vaccine in a timely manner."
Horton urged doctors and the public to be patient, saying the federal government expects there will be more than enough vaccine for those considered at highest risk for infection, which include toddlers, children, teenagers, young adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic health problems. Because infants under 6 months cannot be vaccinated, parents and caregivers are asked to be inoculated.
Just 1.7 million doses of H1N1 inoculations have been delivered to California out of 20 million expected this season. On Wednesday, federal officials said vaccine supplies have been delayed because the swine flu strain does not grow in eggs as rapidly as the seasonal flu virus does, thereby limiting the amount of protein that is available for inclusion in a vaccine.
A federal official said Wednesday that despite repeated inquiries, the vaccine manufacturers did not tell the government about the delay until about Oct. 12.
California is now seeing the number of flu cases typically seen during the peak of a regular flu season, Horton said. Nearly 6% of patients being seen by physicians are reporting flu-like illness, which is higher than last week's percentage of 5%.
Normally, at this time of year, just 2% of patients seen at doctor's offices report flu-like illness. The estimates are based from a network of 90 sentinel physicians who report numbers to the state Department of Public Health.
After several weeks, hospitalizations due to the flu increased for the first time last week, Horton said. Still, reports coming to the state indicate that hospital emergency rooms overall have so far been able to handle the load of flu patients, Horton said.
Researchers from Purdue University wrote in the journal Eurosurveillance last week that a mathematical model of the swine flu pandemic predicts the disease will peak this week. But federal officials warn that a second, larger wave of infections could arrive after Jan. 1.
With vaccine supply limited, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the release of about 25 million N95 respirators, or half of the state's stockpile of the tightly fitting masks that have been shown to protect wearers from breathing in flu virus from ill patients. They also help prevent doctors and nurses from getting the flu.
The masks are being distributed to local health departments in order to prevent shortages among health care workers, especially those who work at hospitals.
Prior to today, two counties have already requested N95 masks--San Diego and Plumas County in the Sierra Nevada area.
Horton also said that health officials feel "very confident" that the swine flu vaccine is as safe as the regular flu inoculation. Both are made the same way.<!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_body_preview" END -->
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