Swine Flu Cases Rise; CDC Urges Vaccination
Swine Flu Cases Rise; CDC Urges Vaccination
Oct. 9, 2009 -- As the number of H1N1 swine flu cases continues to rise in the U.S., officials from the CDC urge the public to consider getting vaccinated against both swine flu and seasonal flu.
''Unfortunately we are seeing more illness, more hospitalizations, and more deaths," said Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. She spoke at the weekly swine flu media briefing held by the CDC.
Get the latest swine flu facts and information from WebMD, the CDC and otherpublic health agencies.
Learn more about the H1N1 swine flu and see what you can do to stayhealthy.
View theslideshow.
Virtually all, she says, is due to the H1N1 virus. To date, swine flu has been reported to be widespread in 37 states. Nineteen pediatric deaths were reported the past week, Schuchat said. "We are now up to 76 children having died'' this year from swine flu -- many more already, she said, than the typical toll from influenza in past years.
From Aug. 30 to Oct. 3, 1,784 U.S. adults and children have died from pneumonia or influenza of all types, according to the CDC.
Even in locations hard hit by the virus in the spring of 2009, she said, experts predict people in a given community will still be vulnerable to swine flu this fall.
New research has shown that injections for both seasonal and swine flu can be given together, said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, who also spoke at the briefing.
As of Friday, 3.7 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been ordered by states and the District of Columbia, Schuchat said. In all, 6.8 million doses are now available and production is continuing.
Exactly when the H1N1 vaccine will be available in a given community is hard to predict, with an individual's local or state health department the best source of information on vaccine availability, Schuchat said.
Schuchat addressed concerns she knows exist about the new vaccine."Some people have reservations, they aren't really sure about this vaccine."
She said that vaccination against flu is the best way to protect yourself and those around you. "This isn't a new vaccine," she said. "The vaccine is being manufactured exactly the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine. It is basically a vaccine made against the H1N1 instead of the seasonal viruses [expected to circulate in the upcoming season]. Based on everything we know now, we are expecting a good safety record for H1N1."
''Unfortunately we are seeing more illness, more hospitalizations, and more deaths," said Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. She spoke at the weekly swine flu media briefing held by the CDC.
Swine Flu Outbreak: Get the Facts
Get the latest swine flu facts and information from WebMD, the CDC and otherpublic health agencies.
- Swine FluCenter
- Focus On Flu: Get ExpertAnswers
- Video: Swine FluPrecautions
- SwineFlu Symptoms
- H1N1Swine Flu Vaccine
- Is the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Safe?
- Swine Flu: 10 Things Not To Do
- CDC Swine Flu Updates
Swine Flu Slideshow
Learn more about the H1N1 swine flu and see what you can do to stayhealthy.
View theslideshow.
Virtually all, she says, is due to the H1N1 virus. To date, swine flu has been reported to be widespread in 37 states. Nineteen pediatric deaths were reported the past week, Schuchat said. "We are now up to 76 children having died'' this year from swine flu -- many more already, she said, than the typical toll from influenza in past years.
From Aug. 30 to Oct. 3, 1,784 U.S. adults and children have died from pneumonia or influenza of all types, according to the CDC.
Even in locations hard hit by the virus in the spring of 2009, she said, experts predict people in a given community will still be vulnerable to swine flu this fall.
New research has shown that injections for both seasonal and swine flu can be given together, said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, who also spoke at the briefing.
H1N1 Vaccine Supplies
As of Friday, 3.7 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been ordered by states and the District of Columbia, Schuchat said. In all, 6.8 million doses are now available and production is continuing.
Exactly when the H1N1 vaccine will be available in a given community is hard to predict, with an individual's local or state health department the best source of information on vaccine availability, Schuchat said.
H1N1 Reservations
Schuchat addressed concerns she knows exist about the new vaccine."Some people have reservations, they aren't really sure about this vaccine."
She said that vaccination against flu is the best way to protect yourself and those around you. "This isn't a new vaccine," she said. "The vaccine is being manufactured exactly the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine. It is basically a vaccine made against the H1N1 instead of the seasonal viruses [expected to circulate in the upcoming season]. Based on everything we know now, we are expecting a good safety record for H1N1."
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