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H1N1 Vaccines Not Expected Until Fall
Federal Officials Urge Preparedness
TheBostonChannel.com
POSTED: 3:53 pm EDT August 10, 2009
BOSTON -- Federal health officials said Monday that it could be Thanksgiving before there is widespread protection from the H1N1 flu.
The prediction was based on the belief that the first batches of the vaccine will be available to the public in mid-October. Children, whom they said would be among the first to receive the vaccination, will require two doses, two weeks apart.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said given that timetable, he would not expect large numbers of the population to have immunity to the virus until approximately one month after the first dose is given.
Frieden said he believes “there will be plenty of vaccine” for everyone who wants to get the H1N1 shot to get it, but that the complete supply will not be available all at once.
Frieden and U.S. education secretary Arne Duncan held a conference call with reporters to brief the media on federal preparedness for the upcoming school year, which will begin before the H1N1 vaccine is available. There is growing concern that schools could become a hotbed for the virus to spread.
So far in Massachusetts, according to the Department of Public Health, there have been 1,383 confirmed cases of H1N1. Nearly half of all cases have involved children between the ages of 5 and 18.
That’s one reason why children 6 months and up will be first in line to receive the vaccine when it becomes available. So will pregnant women, health care workers, and people who care for infants under 6 months of age.
In Massachusetts, according to the DPH statistics, so far 51 of the confirmed H1N1 cases have been pregnant women. One hundred and seventy six of the 1,383 have required hospitalization and there have been 10 deaths attributed to the virus in the state.
The CDC recently released $260 million to states to prepare for the potential of widespread outbreaks this fall. Federal officials confirmed any decision to close specific schools would be made on a state or local level.
Even without a vaccine, the administration urged parents, students, teachers and members of the general public to follow three common sense steps to prevent the spread of the virus. They said if you’re sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. And third, they suggested everyone wash hands often.
Frieden said he does not expect side effects from the H1N1 vaccine to vary from those commonly seen after patients receive the seasonal flu vaccine, which, he said, 100 million Americans get every year.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/20347790/detail.html
Federal Officials Urge Preparedness
TheBostonChannel.com
POSTED: 3:53 pm EDT August 10, 2009
BOSTON -- Federal health officials said Monday that it could be Thanksgiving before there is widespread protection from the H1N1 flu.
The prediction was based on the belief that the first batches of the vaccine will be available to the public in mid-October. Children, whom they said would be among the first to receive the vaccination, will require two doses, two weeks apart.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said given that timetable, he would not expect large numbers of the population to have immunity to the virus until approximately one month after the first dose is given.
Frieden said he believes “there will be plenty of vaccine” for everyone who wants to get the H1N1 shot to get it, but that the complete supply will not be available all at once.
Frieden and U.S. education secretary Arne Duncan held a conference call with reporters to brief the media on federal preparedness for the upcoming school year, which will begin before the H1N1 vaccine is available. There is growing concern that schools could become a hotbed for the virus to spread.
So far in Massachusetts, according to the Department of Public Health, there have been 1,383 confirmed cases of H1N1. Nearly half of all cases have involved children between the ages of 5 and 18.
That’s one reason why children 6 months and up will be first in line to receive the vaccine when it becomes available. So will pregnant women, health care workers, and people who care for infants under 6 months of age.
In Massachusetts, according to the DPH statistics, so far 51 of the confirmed H1N1 cases have been pregnant women. One hundred and seventy six of the 1,383 have required hospitalization and there have been 10 deaths attributed to the virus in the state.
The CDC recently released $260 million to states to prepare for the potential of widespread outbreaks this fall. Federal officials confirmed any decision to close specific schools would be made on a state or local level.
Even without a vaccine, the administration urged parents, students, teachers and members of the general public to follow three common sense steps to prevent the spread of the virus. They said if you’re sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. And third, they suggested everyone wash hands often.
Frieden said he does not expect side effects from the H1N1 vaccine to vary from those commonly seen after patients receive the seasonal flu vaccine, which, he said, 100 million Americans get every year.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/20347790/detail.html