Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Swine flu vaccine questioned by many
Reported by: Jennifer Hale, Reporter
Last Update: 7:45 pm
(FOX 8 News) New Orleans -
Doctors now estimate 100,000 state residents have had or now have swine flu.
Today, state health leaders ordered Louisiana's first shipment of H1N1 vaccine. Ironically, new poll numbers also out today show many people don't want the vaccine.
Louisiana health leaders ordered 25,000 doses of swine flu vaccine this morning - the maximum amount allowed, for now. It will go fast, given the number of people waiting in line.
Yet there are many others who doubt the safety of the vaccine because of how quickly it was developed. Many are debating skipping the immunization.
"I have to Research it some more and then I'll make a decision," says one woman on her lunch break in downtown New Orleans.
?No not at all. I took a normal flu vaccine last year and it made me sick,"
?I've never gotten a flu vaccine and I've had the flu twice, so I'm really not that worried about it"
New Orleans residents? concerns are mirroring a national trend. A new Consumer Reports poll shows 43% of Americans are undecided abut the swine flu vaccine. And when it comes to parents, just 35% say they'll definitely get their child vaccinated.
"As soon as the h1n1 vaccine comes out, I'll go out and get it," says state epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard.
He says no one should be worried about the vaccine's safety because it was made using the same guidelines and processes as the regular flu vaccine.
?It's not a new vaccine against a new disease. It's a new strain of the virus, but every year the virus is slightly different. The way of doing the vaccine this year is the same way they did it the past several years," explains Ratard.
Despite concerns, state health officers are expecting demand for the H1N1 vaccine to far out pace supply. They've asked for and are expecting frequent new shipments.
"Each week we'll get more comes off the manufacturing line," explains Dr. Erin Brewer, assistant state health officer.
Although Dr. Brewer says there may be some reactions that didn't show up in the test groups, she thinks they'll be isolated and rare cases.
"Certainly since we've only tested the vaccine on thousands, once we vaccinate millions, a rare effect could show up," says Brewer.
But she insists the best strategy to protect yourself is to take the vaccine as soon you can. That initial shipment of 25,000 swine flu vaccine doses is expected to arrive mid to late October.
If you're an at-risk patient, contact your health care provider to see if that office is registered to give the swine flu vaccine.
So far, more than 1,600 pharmacists and doctors have been cleared to administer the vaccine statewide.
http://www.fox8live.com/content/new...uestioned-by-many/-zYNDjmQ20mPGXg08SjD7A.cspx
Reported by: Jennifer Hale, Reporter
Last Update: 7:45 pm
(FOX 8 News) New Orleans -
Doctors now estimate 100,000 state residents have had or now have swine flu.
Today, state health leaders ordered Louisiana's first shipment of H1N1 vaccine. Ironically, new poll numbers also out today show many people don't want the vaccine.
Louisiana health leaders ordered 25,000 doses of swine flu vaccine this morning - the maximum amount allowed, for now. It will go fast, given the number of people waiting in line.
Yet there are many others who doubt the safety of the vaccine because of how quickly it was developed. Many are debating skipping the immunization.
"I have to Research it some more and then I'll make a decision," says one woman on her lunch break in downtown New Orleans.
?No not at all. I took a normal flu vaccine last year and it made me sick,"
?I've never gotten a flu vaccine and I've had the flu twice, so I'm really not that worried about it"
New Orleans residents? concerns are mirroring a national trend. A new Consumer Reports poll shows 43% of Americans are undecided abut the swine flu vaccine. And when it comes to parents, just 35% say they'll definitely get their child vaccinated.
"As soon as the h1n1 vaccine comes out, I'll go out and get it," says state epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard.
He says no one should be worried about the vaccine's safety because it was made using the same guidelines and processes as the regular flu vaccine.
?It's not a new vaccine against a new disease. It's a new strain of the virus, but every year the virus is slightly different. The way of doing the vaccine this year is the same way they did it the past several years," explains Ratard.
Despite concerns, state health officers are expecting demand for the H1N1 vaccine to far out pace supply. They've asked for and are expecting frequent new shipments.
"Each week we'll get more comes off the manufacturing line," explains Dr. Erin Brewer, assistant state health officer.
Although Dr. Brewer says there may be some reactions that didn't show up in the test groups, she thinks they'll be isolated and rare cases.
"Certainly since we've only tested the vaccine on thousands, once we vaccinate millions, a rare effect could show up," says Brewer.
But she insists the best strategy to protect yourself is to take the vaccine as soon you can. That initial shipment of 25,000 swine flu vaccine doses is expected to arrive mid to late October.
If you're an at-risk patient, contact your health care provider to see if that office is registered to give the swine flu vaccine.
So far, more than 1,600 pharmacists and doctors have been cleared to administer the vaccine statewide.
http://www.fox8live.com/content/new...uestioned-by-many/-zYNDjmQ20mPGXg08SjD7A.cspx