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Doctors very selective in giving out Tamiflu
Reported by: Jennifer Hale, Reporter
Last Update: 9/10 6:30 pm
Tamiflu supplies are being withheld for those most at-risk and first responders.
The swine flu outbreak is hitting Children's Hospital hard. Patients need more Tamiflu, and so do employees. Doctors are now reserving Tamiflu for at risk patients and first responders - like medical personnel.
?We have enough supply right now but as demand spiked those supplies can run out in a hurry," says Jay Schwab, Director of Pharmacy for Children?s Hospital.
So far, the pharmacy at Children's Hospital has been able to fill every Tamiflu prescription, but keeping that track record up may not be easy.
?It is becoming more and more difficult to get the Tamiflu,? says Dr. Roldolfo Begue, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Children?s Hospital.
Health experts say otherwise healthy people with swine flu shouldn't panic if they can't get Tamiflu.
?We're primarily targeting an at risk population because most patients will get better if they just follow the precautions,? says Schwab.
He says for most people, Tamiflu will only reduce the life of your flu by a day or two. Tamiflu works by preventing the flu virus from leaving the cell it's infecting - therefore the virus can't spread.
It takes ten steps to make Tamiflu. Scientists working from scratch need 2-3 years or 6-8 months if the raw materials are already in house. They use a fermented acid from a specific star of anise plant grown mainly in China.
The state does have an emergency supply of Tamiflu. 15,000 doses have been assigned to Children's Hospital, but that stash can't be used until the C.D.C. declares a pandemic.
Meanwhile Children's Hospital is struggling to keep up with the growing number of swine flu cases.
?It is putting a strain on the resources. We've had to open additional areas of the hospital to see and treat children with flu symptoms,? says Dr. Begue.
That means overtime for doctors and nurses because swine flu patients require extra care.
Once they're admitted, they're put in isolation, which does take extra staff. So it is a problem, but I think we're handling it appropriately," explains Begue.
If you're doctor will write you a Tamiflu prescription, it will cost you around $100 dollars without insurance - usually between $40 and $60 with insurance.
Be careful about imitation medications. Pharmacists at Children?s Hospital say there are dozens of internet sites claiming to have generic Tamiflu, but the medication is not the same thing and doesn?t work nearly as well.
Children's Hospital has started a hotline to answer swine flu questions. Find out more at: www.chnola.org.
http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/...iving-out-Tamiflu/pT7W9swyekC4tlRpnIYtzQ.cspx
Reported by: Jennifer Hale, Reporter
Last Update: 9/10 6:30 pm
Tamiflu supplies are being withheld for those most at-risk and first responders.
The swine flu outbreak is hitting Children's Hospital hard. Patients need more Tamiflu, and so do employees. Doctors are now reserving Tamiflu for at risk patients and first responders - like medical personnel.
?We have enough supply right now but as demand spiked those supplies can run out in a hurry," says Jay Schwab, Director of Pharmacy for Children?s Hospital.
So far, the pharmacy at Children's Hospital has been able to fill every Tamiflu prescription, but keeping that track record up may not be easy.
?It is becoming more and more difficult to get the Tamiflu,? says Dr. Roldolfo Begue, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Children?s Hospital.
Health experts say otherwise healthy people with swine flu shouldn't panic if they can't get Tamiflu.
?We're primarily targeting an at risk population because most patients will get better if they just follow the precautions,? says Schwab.
He says for most people, Tamiflu will only reduce the life of your flu by a day or two. Tamiflu works by preventing the flu virus from leaving the cell it's infecting - therefore the virus can't spread.
It takes ten steps to make Tamiflu. Scientists working from scratch need 2-3 years or 6-8 months if the raw materials are already in house. They use a fermented acid from a specific star of anise plant grown mainly in China.
The state does have an emergency supply of Tamiflu. 15,000 doses have been assigned to Children's Hospital, but that stash can't be used until the C.D.C. declares a pandemic.
Meanwhile Children's Hospital is struggling to keep up with the growing number of swine flu cases.
?It is putting a strain on the resources. We've had to open additional areas of the hospital to see and treat children with flu symptoms,? says Dr. Begue.
That means overtime for doctors and nurses because swine flu patients require extra care.
Once they're admitted, they're put in isolation, which does take extra staff. So it is a problem, but I think we're handling it appropriately," explains Begue.
If you're doctor will write you a Tamiflu prescription, it will cost you around $100 dollars without insurance - usually between $40 and $60 with insurance.
Be careful about imitation medications. Pharmacists at Children?s Hospital say there are dozens of internet sites claiming to have generic Tamiflu, but the medication is not the same thing and doesn?t work nearly as well.
Children's Hospital has started a hotline to answer swine flu questions. Find out more at: www.chnola.org.
http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/...iving-out-Tamiflu/pT7W9swyekC4tlRpnIYtzQ.cspx
