Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=500 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 17px; COLOR: #003399; FONT-FAMILY: georgia" vAlign=top height=40>H1N1 Vaccination Still a Good Idea, CDC Says
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<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px">By Todd Neale, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: February 05, 2010
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Although pandemic H1N1 influenza activity appears to have leveled off, the CDC remains wary of what the future may hold.
No states were reporting widespread influenza activity, and only six -- Alabama, Georgia, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Virginia -- were reporting regional activity, Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on a conference call today.
Influenza-like activity remained below the baseline level for this time of year for the third straight week, Schuchat said.
"That's fairly similar to what we would normally see at this time of year with seasonal flu," she said.
However, she said that the H1N1 virus continues to circulate, causing severe disease and death in some cases.
Although total activity is down, Schuchat noted that the proportion of deaths attributed to either flu or pneumonia is higher than the epidemic threshold, and has been for the past three weeks. The reasons were unclear, but she said there are no indications that the virus has become more virulent.
But, she said, "H1N1 vaccination remains a good idea."
The most recent results of the CDC's National H1N1 Flu Survey revealed that about 70 million people, or 23.4% of Americans, have been vaccinated so far. About 76 million doses of the vaccine have been used because of the requirement that children younger than 10 get two.
About 37% of children up to age 18 have been vaccinated. For those younger than 10, 37% have received their second dose.
Vaccine supply remains ample, Schuchat said, with about 124 million doses shipped around the country up to this point.
Citing an "unprecedented" effort to monitor safety, she said there have not been any major safety concerns identified.
"So if safety was the reason that you were waiting, I think you can be reassured on that front."
http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/SwineFlu/18325
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<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px">By Todd Neale, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: February 05, 2010
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Although pandemic H1N1 influenza activity appears to have leveled off, the CDC remains wary of what the future may hold.
No states were reporting widespread influenza activity, and only six -- Alabama, Georgia, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Virginia -- were reporting regional activity, Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on a conference call today.
Influenza-like activity remained below the baseline level for this time of year for the third straight week, Schuchat said.
"That's fairly similar to what we would normally see at this time of year with seasonal flu," she said.
However, she said that the H1N1 virus continues to circulate, causing severe disease and death in some cases.
Although total activity is down, Schuchat noted that the proportion of deaths attributed to either flu or pneumonia is higher than the epidemic threshold, and has been for the past three weeks. The reasons were unclear, but she said there are no indications that the virus has become more virulent.
But, she said, "H1N1 vaccination remains a good idea."
The most recent results of the CDC's National H1N1 Flu Survey revealed that about 70 million people, or 23.4% of Americans, have been vaccinated so far. About 76 million doses of the vaccine have been used because of the requirement that children younger than 10 get two.
About 37% of children up to age 18 have been vaccinated. For those younger than 10, 37% have received their second dose.
Vaccine supply remains ample, Schuchat said, with about 124 million doses shipped around the country up to this point.
Citing an "unprecedented" effort to monitor safety, she said there have not been any major safety concerns identified.
"So if safety was the reason that you were waiting, I think you can be reassured on that front."
http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/SwineFlu/18325