H1N1 flu vaccine

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'll get a poll up in a second.

Pregnant women routinely top lists of people who are at risk of death for H1N1. You are 6 times more likely to die of it if you are pregnant. (Regular flu is dangerous for both mom and fetus as well.) It acts very quickly and aggressively on weak immune systems, and you could be in trouble before you even realize it's flu.

I am not a regular flu shot person, and I don't often get sick, but I am going for it. I work in a very public environment. I just had a regular old common cold and it knocked me on my ass. I read a bunch about the vaccine and feel confident that the shot is safe and that I'd feel better getting it.

I called my provider this week and they said they might have it in a couple of weeks and to keep checking back. I wish that those of us who want it could be notified by email or something, though I figure the stampede will be crazy regardless.

FYI, there's a nasal spray vaccine that is safe for non-risk groups. It's a weak flu vaccine, so the rest of us can't get it. They've rolled out tons of that for the health care workers, for obvious reasons.

So, are you wary of the flu, wary of the vaccine, or not wary at all?

[Gemini Cricket]

I'm going to get one. I think Costco here is selling them as well as Longs Drugs Stores. Count me as not wary at all.

[€uroMeinke]

I usually miss getting the flu shot. The same will probably happen again this year, unless it's convenient.

[Snowflake]

The one, and only time I got a flu shot, I was never so ill in all my life. My doctor recommended it, gave it to me and I never quite forgave him. I caught every passing bug within 15 feet of me.

I've probably been exposed to H1N1 thanks to a person in our office who was down for the count with it, but, have remained unaffected.

No flu shot for me, but all the clorox wipes and disinfectant all over our office is slowly turning me into a germophobe.:)

[BarTopDancer]

CP - check with your local drug stores. They have been giving them out and insurance has been covering it.


I won't be getting it. Besides not being high risk 1) I've had one flu shot and it knocked me on my ass more than any flu ever has. 2) I hate, hate, HATE needles. 3) I cant do nasal sprays because of sinus issues.

If I was in a high risk group or in regular contact with someone who was, I'd probably suck it up. But I'm not, so I won't be. I also don't get the regular flu shot.

[Betty]

Probably won't get it. I'm a bit leery of it for some reason... like it's a new windows operating system and I want the masses to beta test it out first.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've had the flu shot this year and will likely get the h1n1 shot. Me and flu do not get along well. My asthma puts me in an at risk group so I should avoid the nasal spray, but it means my shot would be covered.

[3894]

I'm not high-risk but I want the shot. It seems like a slam dunk decision to me.

[Morrigoon]

I would take the nasal spray if it was offered to me, but not interested in the shot.

[katiesue]

Maddie's in a high risk group because of her diabetes. Her docs office said to check back at the end of the month, they still don't have it. We've already gotten her the regular flu shot.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

CP - check with your local drug stores. They have been giving them out and insurance has been covering it.Where have you seen that offers the H1N1 shot? There are lots of places that offer the regular flu shot but I haven't seen H1N1 anywhere.

[Ghoulish Delight]

You are 6 times more likely to die of it if you are pregnant. (Regular flu is dangerous for both mom and fetus as well.)
That's not quite what the statistics say. The statistic being reported is that 6% of the US swine flu deaths have been pregnant women, while pregnant women make up only 1% of the general population. While that means 6 times as many as one would expect have died, it doesn't mean they're 6 times more likely to die than someone who isn't pregnant. To know that you'd have to know infection rates and some other numbers.

Not that the statistic isn't cause for concern. Even if it is simply indicating that pregnant women are more likely to contract H1N1 and therefore even dying at the same rate as the general population they'll account for a disproportionate number of deaths, that's a good enough reason to take the precaution of the shot. But "6 times more likely" isn't quite an accurate picture.

[3894]

Even if it is simply indicating that pregnant women are more likely to contract H1N1 and therefore even dying at the same rate as the general population they'll account for a disproportionate number of deaths, that's a good enough reason to take the precaution of the shot.

This interested me, GD, so I googled. CDC sez (in spoiler box because I don't know how many details CP and GD want. When I was expecting, I preferred to not think of these things.) : However, evidence that influenza can be more severe in pregnant women is available from observations during previous pandemics and from studies among pregnant women who had seasonal influenza. An excess of influenza-associated deaths among pregnant women were reported during the pandemics of 1918–1919 and 1957–1958. Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been reported following previous influenza pandemics, with increased rates of spontaneous abortion and preterm birth reported, especially among women with pneumonia. Case reports and several epidemiologic studies conducted during interpandemic periods also indicate that pregnancy increases the risk for influenza complications for the mother and might increase the risk for adverse perinatal outcomes or delivery complications.

Source is here (http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/clinician_pregnant.htm).

[innerSpaceman]

After having heard a program about the really disgusting and patently unsafe methods of preparing vaccines, I'm never getting one again.

(Not that I have in forever anyway.)


No, I can't relate to you what I learned. I forgot everything but the taste.

[BarTopDancer]

Where have you seen that offers the H1N1 shot? There are lots of places that offer the regular flu shot but I haven't seen H1N1 anywhere.

I could be wrong, but I thought I saw it at CVS and Target.

[Moonliner]

After having heard a program about the really disgusting and patently unsafe methods of preparing vaccines, I'm never getting one again.

(Not that I have in forever anyway.)


No, I can't relate to you what I learned. I forgot everything but the taste.

Dude, that was the "Jungle" and they were talking about meat packing plants...

(just kidding).


Can you link to a source?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

While that means 6 times as many as one would expect have died...This is what I meant. Sorry for the poor choice of words, thanks for the clarification.

I could be wrong, but I thought I saw it at CVS and Target.

Not at CVS in CA (http://www.minuteclinic.com/flu/h1n1/vaccination_locations/)

I'm not seeing anything on Target's website, and they
aren't listed on the CA page (http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/H1N1VaccineLocations.aspx).

[innerSpaceman]

Can you link to a source?
Nope. My sources are not internet. (That's not to say there isn't copious material about the harm from, and shoddy manufacturing and safety approval practices of vaccinations on the internet. Google is your friend.)

[BarTopDancer]

This is what I meant. Sorry for the poor choice of words, thanks for the clarification.



Not at CVS in CA (http://www.minuteclinic.com/flu/h1n1/vaccination_locations/)

I'm not seeing anything on Target's website, and they
aren't listed on the CA page (http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/H1N1VaccineLocations.aspx).

Sorry! :(

[Ghoulish Delight]

Nope. My sources are not internet. (That's not to say there isn't copious material about the harm from, and shoddy manufacturing and safety approval practices of vaccinations on the internet. Google is your friend.)Most of which is b.s.

eta: just one fact (found in 30 seconds) to back up my statement - at least 44,000 people have already been vaccinated in China with reports of only 14 adverse cases — and it’s not certain that those adverse outcomes are even linked to the vaccine.

[innerSpaceman]

Really? Reports??? In CHINA?

Please forgive me for laughing at the thought of any of that being accurate.


I'm not at all saying whatever anyone might find on the internet about vaccine dangers may be 98% tinfoil-hat stuff, but officialdom in China as source of reliable information is just as absurd.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Those numbers come from WHO, not from China's government.

But like I said, that was just the first stat I found. Plenty more out there, the most important being that A) the H1N1 vaccine is being produced by the same producers, on the same equipment, with the same process that the "regular" vaccine has been for the past 30 years with no ill effects (Jenny McCarthy can go screw) and B) even with the accelerated time table to get the H1N1 on the market, there have been several different clinical trials already that have shown it to be as safe as the general flu shot.

[innerSpaceman]

Safe as the general flu shot is not nearly good enough for me.

I'm not in a high-risk group, so I have the luxury of using my own anti-bodies, and I'm fine with that.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Safe as the general flu shot is not nearly good enough for me.And what exactly are you afraid of with the flu shot? (yes I will keep harping on this because fear based on utter nonsense puts public health at risk)

[Ghoulish Delight]

BTW, one more fact (true of both the H1N1 vaccine and the regular seasonal vaccine). The shot contains no live virus. The nasal spray does contain live virus, however it is a modified virus that is unable to incubate at body temperature so once administered, it dies.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, with alzheimer's kicking in at an alarming rate, I cannot recall the things I heard that put me off vaccines many years ago.

I also can't recall the things I learned about the benefits of vegetarianism, but I stored my considered opinion in my soul and I intend to be non-carnivoristic in my next life ... during which I will also not contract the flu.

[bewitched]

Olivia and I already got a regular flu shot. We will definitely get the H1N1 shot when it is available here (although, based on the diagnoses in O's school, we are well into H1N1 contagion). Unfortunately, from what I understand, you big city folks are getting the lion's share of the vaccine first, leaving us second rate cities to die off of in a pandemic so you can come in and take all of our land for your own pleasure.

Well...screw you too. :mad:

;)

[Disneyphile]

CP - I'll ask Ken to find out about the vaccination for you. I think they've been getting them in limited supply, and he usually knows when shipments arrive. :)

[Betty]

News reports quoting how many deaths lately make me think about reconsidering.

[BarTopDancer]

How many people die from the regular flu?

H1N1 is a new strain of the flu and the news is making things worse by hyping up the panic levels.

[Ghoulish Delight]

How many people die from the regular flu?

H1N1 is a new strain of the flu and the news is making things worse by hyping up the panic levels.
What panic levels? All anyone is saying is keep your hands clean and get immunized if you can, especially if you're high risk.

The reason H1N1 is getting the amount of attention is two-fold.

1) It's particularly virulent. It spreads more easily and causes more severe symptoms than most seasonal flus.

2) That alone wouldn't be all that big of a deal, if swine flu had come on the scene in time to be included in the seasonal flu vaccine. But by the time H1N1 began to spread, production of the flu vaccine had already begun.

The flu is a serious matter. It's wiped out large chunks of world population several times through history. The only reason that it doesn't really do that anymore is that the CDC and WHO and related agencies have pretty good strategies for controlling outbreaks. But that strategy involves some educated guess-work, it's not fool proof. When they guess right (most of the time), we all hardly notice. A good chunk of people get themselves immunized, we all are fairly good about washing our hands, and things remain relatively in control, business as usual.

But those rare cases where they guess wrong, they need to make some noise and get people's attention. Business as usual is not going to cut it. If we were to just try to breeze through flu season thinking that the normal amount of people getting the seasonal flu shot and assuming the normal level of basic hygiene are going to keep us as safe as normal, we have a problem. People need to be aware that some extra precaution is necessary.

I feel sorry for the CDC. What a sh*tty position to be in. If they don't do their job, thousands die. If they do their job, people see nothing happen and then bitch at them for interrupting their day with some reminders to wash their hands.

Lack of mass flu deaths is not proof that the warnings were b.s. It's proof that the extra awareness has done its job.

[Disneyphile]

CP - Target doesn't carry the nasal spray vaccine, which is the one used for pregnant women. Ken said it's best to go through your doctor for that one.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Err, the nasal spray is NOT for use with pregnant women. It contains live virus.

[BarTopDancer]

What panic levels? All anyone is saying is keep your hands clean and get immunized if you can, especially if you're high risk.

Not here, we're a level-headed bunch. It's the same thing the news does with everything - sensationalize.

I agree the Flu is a serious thing. I'm lucky I'm not in a high risk group and that I have a strong immune system, even though from what I've been hearing that doesn't really help with this since the body will attack itself. So I'll wash my hands and be a bit more cautious and go on my way.

I feel sorry for the CDC. What a sh*tty position to be in. If they don't do their job, thousands die. If they do their job, people see nothing happen and then bitch at them for interrupting their day with some reminders to wash their hands.

I agree.

Lack of mass flu deaths is not proof that the warnings were b.s. It's proof that the extra awareness has done its job.

That's not what I was saying. It seems that people have forgotten that people die from the regular flu and now it's zomg people are dying from the H1N1 flu with absolutely no recollection that people die from the regular flu.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Young otherwise healthy people generally don't die from regular flu. It's mostly the elderly and the already infirmed. Young otherwise healthy people have been dying of swine flu (less so in the US than, say, Mexico, but it's still a cause for greater concern than the general spate of flu deaths).

[Disneyphile]

Err, the nasal spray is NOT for use with pregnant women. It contains live virus.
Hrrrm. Either he or I got it backwards. :blush:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Not here, we're a level-headed bunch. It's the same thing the news does with everything - sensationalize.Actually, I'm rather surprised at how level-headed the media has seemed on this. Can you provide a link?

[Stan4dSteph]

I will be getting it as soon as it is available to me. I got the flu shot this year. As in previous years, my only side effect was temporary pain at the injection site.

[BarTopDancer]

Actually, I'm rather surprised at how level-headed the media has seemed on this. Can you provide a link?

Just stuff I see on TV getting ready for work. No links.

It seems that I am being misunderstood. I think it's a serious issue and the shot/spray is good to have for those who need/want it. I think it's safe to take and my reasons for not taking it have nothing to do with it.

I also think people who aren't in the high risk group and aren't around people who are should let those who are in the high risk group get first dibs (this goes for the regular shot too).

I may be more blase about it because so far, this area is not hit hard. And my opinions are subject to change. I'm not stating (nor have I claimed to state) hard and fast facts, just my thoughts.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Oh, you watch TEEVEE. That explains it. Yeah, TV news has been horrible and exploitative for at least 10 years now.

I do not consider TV news as actual reportage. It's entertainment. I don't care which network, which anchors. When Hal Fishman allowed bimbos into the studio and attempted to banter with them, I stopped watching TV news.

[BarTopDancer]

Oh, you watch TEEVEE. That explains it. Yeah, TV news has been horrible and exploitative for at least 10 years now.

Specifically I turn on the Today show in the morning because that's the least revolting to my senses so I can find out if anything major happened overnight.

I'm still pretty much on my complete news hiatus that started when we started bombing Iraq and pick and choose what I read about online.

Unfortunately I suspect the majority of the population still watches the teevee news and reacts accordingly.

[blueerica]

I'm actually not getting the vaccine, but mostly because I typically have a bad reaction to them... not flu reaction, but I think it's linked to my mild egg allergy. I've had two in my life, and the most recent was a few years ago when J was on a medication that brought his immune system down.

Now, if I was high-risk, or J was in that situation again, I'd consider it, but otherwise, no. The fact that there's H1N1 doesn't change that. At all.

So I just make sure that I wash my hands, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers (hate the gel stuff, as it's kind of sticky and doesn't dry as fast as it should to really get the job done, so I use a spray), and just take general precaution. I've had two people in my office get diagnosed, and one that didn't get tested, but his doc said "it's probably what you have, but you're not high-risk, so we're not testing you." It didn't seem toooo bad compared to regular flu.

[Strangler Lewis]

After waiting in a long line, I got de-swined Saturday. Hopefully, my immunity kicks in before I get sick from the symptomatic person ahead of me who was pulled out of the line.

I happened to sneeze as a triage worker passed by, and she grilled me as to whether I was sick. I convinced her I wasn't, so I got to stay in line. However, I also heard rumors that the symptomatic people, rather than being denied shots, were going to the head of the line. (Links! Recht!)

[3894]

I was thinking about way back when every kid had to have a polio vaccine, you went to the local elementary school gym and lined up. Every kid got a sugar cube with the dose dripped on to it. Either the vaccine cost nothing or it was nominal, like $1.

The government was serious about eradicating polio, a very serious disease. I realize H1N1 is no polio but young people have died from it. Why are we not making this vaccine available at every elementary school gym? Why are we not making the vaccine free or available for a nominal fee, instead of the $24.95 (charged to insurance, if you have it)?

Then this morning, NPR did a piece about the manufacturing snafu (not the right word because it has to do with inability to pre-determine yield/potency) that lead to L.A. getting only 300,000 doses for an area of 6 million, for example. Read the piece here. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114156775)

[BarTopDancer]

I was thinking about way back when every kid had to have a polio vaccine, you went to the local elementary school gym and lined up. Every kid got a sugar cube with the dose dripped on to it. Either the vaccine cost nothing or it was nominal, like $1.

The government was serious about eradicating polio, a very serious disease. I realize H1N1 is no polio but young people have died from it. Why are we not making this vaccine available at every elementary school gym? Why are we not making the vaccine free or available for a nominal fee, instead of the $24.95 (charged to insurance, if you have it)?

I'd wager that back then there were fewer people who questioned the "governments ulterior motives" when it came to the vaccine and took it because it needed to be done.

The problem with so many of the diseases these days is their ability to quickly mutate thanks to the overuse of sanitizers and anti-bacterial agents. If Polio was still around I suspect it would keep mutating making the eradication of it more difficult. It wouldn't be surprising to see more and more cases of diseases that were thought to be nearly eradicated due to the increasing numbers of people who aren't being vaccinated.

[3894]

I'd wager that back then there were fewer people who questioned the "governments ulterior motives" when it came to the vaccine and took it because it needed to be done.

You can file the mistrust of government under Nothing New under the Sun. For example, the next town over to where I live refused to fluoridate for two decades. The Water Department began adding fluoride to
the city’s water in 1950. They waited a month to tell residents, fueling rumors of communist plots. Those conspiracy rumors are still around. It wasn't until 1972 that the voters allowed fluoride in the city's water.

[Prudence]

My insurance never seems to cover flu vaccine. I really don't understand why. I'm high risk. Hopefully, I have some immunity to the H1N1 now. I'm still going to try to get the shots at some point.

[innerSpaceman]

Isn't $1 in the Polio vaccine era pretty much equal to $25 today??

[3894]

Isn't $1 in the Polio vaccine era pretty much equal to $25 today??

You have a good point, iSm. I'll pick 1964 because I can remember the polio sugar cubes and I was 7 that year. This inflation calculator (http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm) sez $1 in 1964 is $6.80 today.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Your insurance doesn't cover the flu vaccine????? Outrageous. This is exactly the kind of thing insurance is supposed to cover.

[Prudence]

It's not considered a mandatory vaccine, so no coverage. After all - you wouldn't want federal employees getting perks like flu shots.

[Strangler Lewis]

It's not considered a mandatory vaccine, so no coverage. After all - you wouldn't want federal employees getting perks like flu shots.

Indeed, federal employees should probably be intentionally infected with a host of communicable diseases to encourage self-reliance and local solutions.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Ummm, my manager mentioned that one of our coworkers sent an email saying he's out today, tested positive for H1N1. Said coworker apparently just showed up. I'm considering arming myself with one of the 1 gallon jugs of hand sanitizer that are at every sink in the building to squirt in his general direction should he wander my way.

[BarTopDancer]

HR should send him home.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

So - those of us who have insurance do not have shots. The free clinics have them.

I finally broke down and called my local free clinic, designated for pregnant women's shots. I had no problem getting an appointment for a couple of days from now.

I feel bad "taking a shot away" from someone who can't afford insurance, but with my very public job, I just can't wait anymore.

[Not Afraid]

I visited my doctor today and they are out of regular flu shots. I'm on a waiting list for the general flu. (Like the General You, only different.) I'm still not convinced I will get the Pork Shot. (Like Pork Chop, only different.)

[BarTopDancer]

In theory, distributing them via the free clinics makes sense - those who are uninsured will cost the state more money if they get sick and have to seek medical treatment vs. those with insurance that will pay if they get sick.

CP - I'm glad you looked into getting the shot elsewhere. I would think that OB offices would be close to the top of the list for places to receive shots from the suppliers. I hope you are able to secure one for Greg too.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I would think that OB offices would be close to the top of the list for places to receive shots from the suppliers. OB offices do not supply shots at all. I read an article on this a while back. They don't have the setup or staff to administer shots, so sending the shots there wouldn't work well. It's up to the regular providers to give them. Why they aren't giving at least some of these to the providers, I don't know.

[BarTopDancer]

OB offices do not supply shots at all. I read an article on this a while back. They don't have the setup or staff to administer shots, so sending the shots there wouldn't work well. It's up to the regular providers to give them. Why they aren't giving at least some of these to the providers, I don't know.

Well that's stupid (not the OB's not set up to give them, the not giving them to regular providers with the caveat they go to x group then y group first).

This whole distribution thing seems to be one big FUBARed situation fueled by the media (yes, on the teevee where the masses get their news from).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Well that's stupid (not the OB's not set up to give them, the not giving them to regular providers with the caveat they go to x group then y group first).

This whole distribution thing seems to be one big FUBARed situation fueled by the media (yes, on the teevee where the masses get their news from).Hmm, now I'm really confused as to how the media has anything to do with the distribution of the vaccine.



I got an email today from the City which I thought might be worth sharing, though those who aren't in OC (or don't have kids, so it'll be even less) won't have much to see here, but I find the whole process interesting, so here goes.

Passing on information from the City of Orange Emergency Medical Services Manager



IF you are trying to find H1N1 vaccine for your families here is an option



I still don’t know when we’ll get our first shots, so……. if you haven’t been able to get them for your kids OR you have a baby less than 6 months of age at home I would encourage you to go to one of these 3 sites this coming Saturday.



They will ONLY give it to parents taking care of a baby under 6 months of age and kids between the ages of 2 and 9. Don’t waste your time if you don’t meet those two criteria.



Crowds might be worse this weekend. I don’t think they advertised the one last Saturday very well……



This article was in the O.C. register yesterday.


Three more public nasal-spray H1N1 clinics this Saturday
November 2nd, 2009, 2:57 pm posted by Landon Hall



If you missed the twin bill of swine-flu nasal-spray clinics offered by the county this past weekend (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/clinic-vaccine-children-2631744-santa-line), you can still get vaccinated at one of three separate such clinics being held this coming Saturday.

All three clinics are free and open to the public. (http://www.ochealthinfo.com/h1n1/index.htm) They’ll be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at:

* Cox Communications, 29947 Avenida De Las Banderas, Rancho Santa Margarita
* Fullerton College, 321 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton
* Cypress City Hall, 5275 Orange Ave., Cypress

About 3,000 doses of the FluMist-brand nasal spray will be administered, not the injectable version. FluMist is recommended only for kids ages 2-9, and healthy adults up to age 49 who care for children ages 6 months or younger, who can’t get flu vaccines of any kind.

A total of 3,277 received nasal-spray spritzes of vaccine at Santa Ana College and Irvine Valley College last Saturday in the first public swine-flu vaccination clinics held by Orange County officials. People started lining up well before dawn to make sure their children got inoculated, but as it turned out, there was plenty of supply to meet the demand. Officials had 4,000 doses available, so there was more then enough to go around, easing fears that the nationwide shortage of H1N1 vaccine might result in some families being turned away.

“We believe that people may have seen the images of long lines and may have stayed away out of concern,” David Souleles, Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director, said in an e-mail. “It seems that most people came early anticipating a line, and few came during the last two hours. By 1 p.m., people could walk right in without a wait.

“Though we would have liked to have provided more vaccinations, we were very pleased with the number of people who brought their children. The public was very orderly and understanding about the limitations the Health Care Agency had to place on who was eligible to receive vaccine.”

Meantime, the HCA continues to vaccinate pregnant women against H1N1 with injectable doses (http://healthyliving.freedomblogging.com/2009/10/30/oc-pregnant-women-start-getting-swine-flu-shots/12259/), but only by appointment. Eighty-three women received shots last Friday, the first day they were available; 126 appointments were scheduled for Monday, and another 147 for Tuesday.

To set up a time, call the HCA’s referral line at 1-800-564-8448.

The county received another shipment of 8,300 single-dose shots Monday, bringing the total to 14,300 such doses that have arrived since last Friday. All are free of the preservative thimerosal.

About 200 shots have been earmarked for the Newport-Mesa Unified School district, which will hold a clinic for students on Saturday in At Mariners Elementary School in Newport Beach from 9 a.m. to noon. Other doses are going to private obstetricians. Some shots already have been distributed to hospitals.

In other swine-flu vaccine news Monday:

* Federal health officials said that data confirm that a single dose is effective when given to pregnant women. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/02/AR2009110202274.html) Children 9 and younger still need two doses, four weeks apart.
* The government said over the weekend the five companies that make the H1N1 vaccine for Americans has ramped up production and should have an additional 10 million doses available next week. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/10/31/2009-10-31_drug_companies_boost_swine_vaccine_production_t o_meet_demand_ten_million_doses_d.html)
* The CDC said that another 19 children died of H1N1 during the week ending Oct. 24 (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-flu31-2009oct31,0,7651765.story), bringing the total to 114 since the pandemic began in April. Four children and two pregnant women are among the 23 fatalities in Orange County from the virus.
* Sacramento County’s top public-health official asked for a state of emergency in the county (http://www.sacbee.com/latest/story/2300558.html) because of the rising number of H1N1 cases.
Note that next-to-last bit about child deaths. If you follow the link:
Nineteen more U.S. children died from pandemic H1N1 influenza in the week ending Oct. 24, bringing the total to 65 since Aug. 30 and to 114 since the beginning of the pandemic in April...In a normal flu season, 40 to 50 children die, so the swine flu is affecting children much more severely than seasonal flu.

[BarTopDancer]

Hmm, now I'm really confused as to how the media has anything to do with the distribution of the vaccine.

From the little I've seen (and it's been enough to form an opinion) they are telling people to go to clinics then interviewing those who are being turned away. It seems that the message that the high risk group (and who they truly are) who is getting priority is lost somewhere.

Since you don't watch teevee news I don't expect you to have the same conclusion.

[CoasterMatt]

I know this might not be a popular opinion, but I think it's just plain time for a pandemic.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I know this might not be a popular opinion, but I think it's just plain time for a pandemic.Please tell me this is supposed to be funny.