Monroe Chat

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,568 ... 0000:b0:z5

Study: H1N1 Vaccine Too Late, Won't Help Most
Tuesday , October 20, 2009



ADVERTISEMENTThe H1N1 vaccine will arrive too late to help most Americans who will be infected during this flu season, according to a study conducted by scholars at Purdue University, The Washington Times reported on Tuesday.

The study also estimates that the virus — commonly referred to as the swine flu bug — will infect about 60 percent of the U.S. population, although only about 25 percent of Americans will fall ill.

Published Oct. 15 in Eurosurveillance, a scientific journal devoted to epidemiology and the surveillance and control of communicable diseases, the study was conducted by professors Sherry Towers and Zhilan Feng of, respectively, Purdue's statistics and mathematics departments.

"The model predicts that there will be a significant wave in autumn, with 63% of the population being infected, and that this wave will peak so early that the planned [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] vaccination campaign will likely not have a large effect on the total number of people ultimately infected by the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus," the authors wrote in their study.

The authors said that this is the week, through Oct. 24, during which the greatest number of people would be infected. The vaccination program has barely started in the U.S.

"The model predicts that the peak wave of infection will occur near the end of October in week 42, with 8% of the population being infected during that week. By the end of 2009, the model predicts that a total of 63% of the population will have been infected," the authors wrote in a conclusion that ignored the effects of a CDC vaccination program.

I was watching a story on this yesterday, of which I now am unable to find, but a lot of people will not even be aware they have H1N1. It will run the gammit from not knowing to hospitalization to the unthinkable!!

Having adverse effects on the young, this seems to be one of the few times when being "old" is better.

It is dreadful that we are hearing such conflicting reports on a daily basis....

Fox news : http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,568838,00.html

H1N1 flu is running rampant throughout the U.S., and the country will have received only 25 percent of the vaccine that was expected by the end of October, Sen. Joe Lieberman told a Senate committee hearing Wednesday.

The grim news was the focus of a special hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, at which three Cabinet secretaries were called to address the panel: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

As of last week, there were more than 5,000 cases of flu reported, compared to 7 cases in October of last year. More than 800 people have died from H1N1, including 86 children, according to the latest reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is the correct info? Who is a reliable source? Why so many contradictory statements? One assumes that the CDC would have the best answers, I'm not so sure that I believe this to be the case.

I have many associates who are in the Medical field who are against the vaccine... WHY?? If this is a flu that will result in fatalities, why are reputable establishments coming out with guarded statements against receiving it?

I tend not listen to the first thing I hear, I would much rather formulate an opinion based on research and my own judgement, however, I still find myself at great odds with this......

I agree Patey. I was at great odds over it too in the beginning until I spoke to the doctors that we see at Children's and a few doctors that I used to work with. We see a group of Neurologists at Childrens (my son's case drew a lot of interest among them, so when we're in there we normally see his doctor plus several others that come in to see how he's doing). I also spoke to the Hematologist & Cardiologist that I know down there from when he was in there and I asked all of them what their thoughts were on the vaccine and all said that it is no different than the seasonal flu vaccine (this is in reference strictly to the injection - dead virus version since my son will not be getting the nasal mist live virus version). They all strongly recommend that the kids get it if at all possible.

These really are the only opinions that I typically listen to since they have access to the most current information. I did talk to my good friend who is a RN at St. Luke's (just casual conversation about whether she would be having her kids vaccinated) and she said absolutely. And several Med Techs I know and they are all getting it and having their kids vaccinated.

My biggest concern really is that it really is too late in this area for the vaccine to do any good.

I have also heard the discussion that this flu vaccine is no different than the other flu vaccine .... but here's where I have issues...... The H1N1 is affecting an age group which 'normally' are in a safe zone (for want of a better term) Young adults.... this is different than the normal flu and therefore one must question how the difference is being accounted for in the vaccination ~ Did that make sense? (I don't think I worded that well! )

As far as the exposure and obvious issues if we are already in a cloud of H1N1 .... I understand that the vaccination might be too little too late but for those who have compromised health, at least it would be an attempt to help.

The explanation I have heard on why it is harder on the young is that the older you are, the more likely you have had a strain of flu similar in nature to H1N1 and going back farther the better in that this is very much like the 1918 flu. Those born before 1950, (not me) may have if not complete immunity, so strong of a resistence that it is no more than the sniffles. I think that is what we are seeing now with the wide range of symptoms and the disparity in severe and uniform reaction.

There are also people whom are just naturally immune to this and many other bacteria and viruses. I was watching a study on the "plague" on why so many died while some of those amonst the carnage where unaffected. All of European descent probably have at least a mild form of this resistence or none of us would be here!