H1N1-Is is over?

[anniemae]

I have not heard much about H1N1 lately. Is the worst of the outbreak over? Is it worth getting the vaccine at this point?

 

[phorsenuf]

I have not heard much about H1N1 lately. Is the worst of the outbreak over? Is it worth getting the vaccine at this point?

Pretty much depends on who you talk you.

Me, eh. Never worried much about it and I have health issues that would allow me to get vaccinated. And I work in a school, but never got sick. Go figure.
I'm not a sky is falling kind of gal anyway.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I have heard that they expect another wave of it again in the early Spring. Not sure if that is really true. I guess only time will tell.

 

[C.Ann]

I have heard that they expect another wave of it again in the early Spring. Not sure if that is really true. I guess only time will tell.

I heard (or read) something similar - but I think it was January - after all the kids are back in school.. But - since this virus hangs around regardless of the weather (hot, cold, warm) who knows? We're just going to have to wait this one out and see what happens.. I think I also read that if it does hang around into spring they will include this vaccine right in with next years seasonal flu shot.. That would be nice - an "all-in-one"..

 

[Feralpeg]

They said on the news that the number of cases being reported has died down. It is not gone. I have a friend who had it two weeks ago. She thinks she caught it flying between the US and London.

As mentioned by a PP, they except another wave to hit in late January, but it shouldn't be as bad as the last one.

By the time I'm able to find a shot, it will be over!

 

[Poohs Pal]

I don't think it is over. The amonunt of Adults and children that have been vaccinated so far I believe has help slow it down. Susan

 

[Ohiodislover]

The only cases I have heard talked about this past week are the new strain that is tamiflu resistant. I think if the vaccine is still available then it is not a bad idea to get it.

I have also heard about a second round in late winter.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I heard on the news today that H1N1 seems to have peaked, at least in our area. The spokesperson from the Dept. of Health said that means there are fewer cases being reported. It could also be that people aren't seeing the doctor when they get sick and doctors aren't automatically testing for it if they don't think the patient is at high risk. So, no one really knows how many cases are out there, they can only estimate.

I still wanted my boys to get the vaccine so we went to a public vaccine clinic today. When they started doing them last month, people were waiting up to six hours to get through the line! We decided to wait a few weeks until it died down. Today, we waited just over 90 minutes from the time we entered the line to the time we walked out. My 14 year old son got a shot and my 11 year old son opted for flu mist. They even let me have a shot since I work with special needs preschoolers. My husband didn't fall into any high-risk group so he didn't try to get one.

 

[wdwfan16]

They said on the news that the number of cases being reported has died down. It is not gone. I have a friend who had it two weeks ago. She thinks she caught it flying between the US and London.

As mentioned by a PP, they except another wave to hit in late January, but it shouldn't be as bad as the last one.

By the time I'm able to find a shot, it will be over!

On CNN this morning they said there are now 73 million doses available nation wide. I am glad my family is vaccinated, kids will get the second shot at the end of the week.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I would love to get the shot before I go in January...

 

[debster812]

I have not heard much about H1N1 lately. Is the worst of the outbreak over? Is it worth getting the vaccine at this point?

DS is 12 years old, and has asthma. We've been on the hunt for both H1N1 and Seasonal Flu vaccine for him. He cannot have the mist due to his asthma, so we've had to wait for actual injections.

Finally got him a seasonal vaccine on Friday, and had a great conversation with the Nurse Practitioner. She says she feels we may still see some more H1N1 outbreaks, and they think they will be getting some more vaccines in.

My take on it, if I can find him the vaccine, I will absolutely get it for him, but I am not going to make myself insane over it.

 

[ogreenlee]

a lot of states have been taken off the WIDESPREAD chart. florida is still on it.

 

[monkey68]

Our PICU is still full of kids with H1N1. Granted, most of them have been there for a while, we're not getting as many transfers as we used to though, for H1N1.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i'm glad i'm not hearing as much about it anymore. i'm tired of the media trying to scare everyone.

the regular flu gets more people sick each year AND kills more people every year, but they never talk about that.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

The only cases I have heard talked about this past week are the new strain that is tamiflu resistant. I think if the vaccine is still available then it is not a bad idea to get it.

I have also heard about a second round in late winter.

well of course......because tamiflu costs less than the vaccine....

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

it has peaked here also, but it will probably be like it was in the spring, and come back. I am getting this morning at my college. they just got a second dose in. I am in a high risk category. I am also going to disney in January and would not fly without it!!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I don't think it is over. The amonunt of Adults and children that have been vaccinated so far I believe has help slow it down. Susan

There are currently two new strains out there-the tamiflu resistent one, and a hemmoragic one. The latter is not rampant, but is appearing in various spots around the world-mainly the Ukraine last month but I just saw in the news that Utah just had a death due to that strain.

I would guess that the party hasn't even started yet.

 

[dumboiu]

There are currently two new strains out there-the tamiflu resistent one, and a hemmoragic one. The latter is not rampant, but is appearing in various spots around the world-mainly the Ukraine last month but I just saw in the news that Utah just had a death due to that strain.

I would guess that the party hasn't even started yet.

Then I take it that the current vaccine is not too effective against these strains?

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Information gathered by another watcher -

New deaths reported over the last 4 weeks:
Nov. 14--224 deaths
Nov. 21--271 deaths
Nov. 28--171 deaths (with ~10 sites not updating, including Florida)
Dec. 5----173 deaths (the Florida and Oklahoma websites are currently down, so I have not included them. Additionally, this week's total would include two weeks worth of totals for the sites that did not update last week.)

It looks like a slow down, but it is NOT gone. The annual flu season has only just begun. It doesn't normally ratchet up until January. Will it get worse then, I don't know. Will it be this Pandemic Strain or the older Seasonal Strain? Going by the Southern Hemisphere, it will be mostly Pandemic Strain.

I don't know if the vaccine will still work if the Strain drifts/mutates far enough away from the selected seed stock. I do know that my children have already rec'd the vaccine and if they hadn't I would still be looking for it.

Each of us will have to make our own choices for our families.

Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

 

[Tinijocaro]

Then I take it that the current vaccine is not too effective against these strains?

Although they say it should be fine, I don't think anyone really knows for sure.