So much for modern medicine....

[Tinijocaro]

....the saving grace for this pandemic was supposed to be the fact that we have much more sophisticated medicines available to us than they did back in 1918.

There are currently Tamiflu-resistant strains of H1N1 out there, and since hardly any testing is going on any more, it is certain that there is much more than is being reported. So much for Tamiflu. So now they move on to Relenza. How long until that becomes resistant?

Most vaccines are not going to be ready until October. Flu season begins in September-that leaves us exposed for a whole month. Kids will be in school for a month spreading this virus. Plus, the vaccines don't take effect right away-could be a couple weeks. Also, since it is a two-dose vaccine, you aren't really covered until we've been given the second dose.

Consider the fact that when vaccine does become available, it will be administered based on need: Children first, medical personnel, immune-compromised people. Me, a woman in her mid 40's might not be able to get it until next year. Makes you feel kind of vulnerable.

Also, looks like production is going slower than they originally thought: http://trancy.net/


"July 11: Swine flu vaccine production hits a snag
Automatically added to News @ July 12th, 2009

source: Swine flu vaccine production has hit a snag, with manufacturers reporting a disappointingly low yield when vaccines viruses are grown in eggs.

The World Health Organization says so far the yield for egg-based production is half or less what manufacturers get when they make vaccine to protect against seasonal H1N1 viruses. The lion’s share of influenza vaccine is made by companies that grow the viruses in eggs.

New seed strains are being made in the hopes of increasing the vaccine yield, a report by the WHO’s vaccine chief, Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny says.

But if the yield cannot be increased, it will slow the rate at which pandemic vaccine comes out of the production pipeline, adding to the time it takes to protect populations in countries like Canada that have purchased vaccine. And countries that haven’t pre-ordered pandemic vaccine would face substantial delays before manufacturers have product to sell to them."



I don't feel that I can count on a vaccine to keep me and my family safe if this bug gets really bad. The ONLY thing I can do is keep my family home and out of crowds. I'm preparing now by stocking up on food, medicine, water, and anything else I could need. The cdc suggests stocking up with at least 3 weeks worth of food and supplies.

My stocking gives me a bit of piece of mind-we can stay in the house if we have to. If nothing comes of this virus, and it stays mild-no harm done and we will get to eat out of my stock for a while.

Is anybody else preparing in any way for a possible rough fall?

 

[princess momma]

No, I'm not doing a thing to prepare.

I'm healthy, my familiy is healthy, right now there's no point in preparing for anything. If we did contract the virus we could fight it off. If I had an immune deficiency I would take extra precautions but there's really no reason for most people to do anything.

 

[Acklander]

Is anybody else preparing in any way for a possible rough fall?

nope, nothing beyond my usual precautions (i.e. handwashing) We're a pretty healthy lot here, so even if we do catch the flu, probably nothing will come of it.

 

[MariDisney]

Is there any reason to think that this flu will be any worse than a seasonal flu any other year? My DD had the H1N1 in June (or maybe late May, I forget). She missed 2 1/2 days of school and was basically exhibiting bad cold like symptoms with one fever spike to 104. All in all, not a terrible sickness here. Neither DH nor I picked up the virus. As a general rule, we don't get many vaccines and being healthy folks who aren't in any high risk categories, we never get the flu vaccine. Even when one is developed for this, we won't get it. Hopefully things won't get any worse then they were this spring, which all in all didn't seem to be too bad.

 

[TinkInPink]

Nope, Nothing at all to prepare.
So far the large majority of victims have been those with underlying conditions, and we live in a world of modern medicine. The large majority of people who died in the 1918 flu didn't didn't die due to the virus but due to complications, i.e. Dehydration etc. The saving grace isn't just new antivirals but is our ability to treat the complications and other symptoms that come along with the virus.

 

[FireDancer]

I think there will be vaccines, I just hope they aren't forced on anyone. I don't believe in vaccinations so I won't get one. I have a healthy immune system and have gotten and fought off the flu before. I do hope they are available though for those who wish to vaccinate. I think it will be a sad sad day when adults are forced to vaccinate, as some are suggesting at the CDC.

I'm not trying to start a debate about the pros and cons of vaccinations. I think we should all be free to decide for ourselves what is best for us and our children. I would never suggest that no one vaccinate, I just wouldn't.

 

[bumbershoot]

The large majority of people who died in the 1918 flu didn't didn't die due to the virus but due to complications, i.e. Dehydration etc.

They've actually been recently looking at the reports of the deaths then, with the symptoms, and realized that quite a few people who died actually died from bacterial infections they had, either along with, or instead of, the flu.

Studies have also shown that groups treated with homeopathy fared FAR better than the groups treated with nothing or with whatever medicine had at the time.


We wash hands, we eat as healthily as possible, we stay home when sick. We treat with homeopathy if really needed, we try as hard as possible to support our bodies and NOT diminish symptoms... If we keep coughing from happening? the phlegm stays inside. If we stop sneezing things out, the stuff in our noses (first line of immune defense for our lungs) stays inside. Don't throw up or the "other", we're not ridding our bodies of the gunk our guts (another immune system stronghold) have created. And so on and so forth. So as much as we possibly can, we support the work our bodies are doing, and rest rest rest when sick!

And that's "all" we're doing.

 

[honugirl]

I will be having surgery in September/October that will put me at risk for death if I catch the flu. Leading up to surgery and after, I will restrict access to my house. I will probably not go anywhere, if I do have to, most likely I'll wear a mask in the months following. I will probably ask that Thanksgiving and Christmas be held at another relatives house so I can opt out (not very easy when they're coming to your house). If I plan on meeting anyone, I'll be quizzing them on if they or a family member has been sick recently. I'll be avoiding kids like the plague since they're little germ incubators. Most likely before going into surgery I will get the regular flu shot so I at least have a little protection. Depending on the makeup of a vaccine, I might consider it. If it's a live virus, no, I won't be getting it, too risky. If it's something else, I would probably get it and/or be forced into it by my doctors. Not really a super time to be having surgery, but I don't really have a choice.

 

[Piecey]

I definitely won't be getting the vaccine they are working on.

Things that aren't thoroughly tested-- or anything that is *new* basically, terrifies me!

I only got the normal flu shot this past fall because I was pregnant, I'd never had one before.

 

[golfgal]

I definitely won't be getting the vaccine they are working on.

Things that aren't thoroughly tested-- or anything that is *new* basically, terrifies me!

I only got the normal flu shot this past fall because I was pregnant, I'd never had one before.

You do realized that the "normal" flu shot is developed the same way and is new every year, right? This one is no different.

 

[onelilspark]

I've never gotten a flu shot before, this year won't be any different. It's a flu strain, plain and simple. I might pay more attention to my flu-like symptoms this year when I do get sick, but that will be all.

 

[Tinijocaro]

One thing that eases my mind is that I am not in any of the high-risk groups. I'm not:

Obese
Asthmatic (dd7 is)
Diabetic
Pregnant

So, for me, most likely if I do get it, it won't be a big deal. If I pass it to my dd, THAT worries me. She's already been hospitalized twice with viral pneumonia and asthma.

My next door neighbor is both obese and pregnant-I think about her because she is VERY social, always out there in the crowds and has a very "it's no big deal" attitude about this.

Of the people who have died from this virus, many also had pneumonia. Several have coughed up blood, several have had pneumonia and kidney failure.

 

[wall*e2008]

You do realized that the "normal" flu shot is developed the same way and is new every year, right? This one is no different.

I get the flu shot every year and as of now plan on getting the H1N1 shot too. I will talk to my Dr. before I get it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is there any reason to think that this flu will be any worse than a seasonal flu any other year? My DD had the H1N1 in June (or maybe late May, I forget). She missed 2 1/2 days of school and was basically exhibiting bad cold like symptoms with one fever spike to 104. All in all, not a terrible sickness here. Neither DH nor I picked up the virus. As a general rule, we don't get many vaccines and being healthy folks who aren't in any high risk categories, we never get the flu vaccine. Even when one is developed for this, we won't get it. Hopefully things won't get any worse then they were this spring, which all in all didn't seem to be too bad.

Other than media-spread overhype and the accompanying panic? Nope.

 

[wall*e2008]

One thing that eases my mind is that I am not in any of the high-risk groups. I'm not:

Obese
Asthmatic (dd7 is)
Diabetic
Pregnant

So, for me, most likely if I do get it, it won't be a big deal. If I pass it to my dd, THAT worries me. She's already been hospitalized twice with viral pneumonia and asthma.

My next door neighbor is both obese and pregnant-I think about her because she is VERY social, always out there in the crowds and has a very "it's no big deal" attitude about this.

Of the people who have died from this virus, many also had pneumonia. Several have coughed up blood, several have had pneumonia and kidney failure.

Since your DD is asthmatic you should always get the shots. You do not want to bring it home. I have asthma and DH must get the shots. He gets priority over other healthy people because of me being on the list of those who should get it.

 

[PinkRhombus]

I think I've only gotten a flu shot one time. And I haven't since because I got the flu that year. They're based on the prior years strands, so if you get the new one, it does you no good.

I usually do get a pretty good cold once a year, but that was the only time I got the flu.

 

[SydneyFalco]

The wife's heavily asthmatic and getting the shot for us is a necessity. Whatever the reason, we've not had flu in five plus years. Not going to break a winning streak now.

 

[Goofycampers]

Other than media-spread overhype and the accompanying panic? Nope.

I'm a home health nurse and we have been getting regular updates from the CDC on this virus. I wouldn't brush it off so lightly if I were you. There is no need to panic but we should also be especially cautious. It has already been categorized as a pandemic and I think we will be hearing much more about it in the fall. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't get flu vaccines.
I figure with everything I've been exposed to in 26 years of nursing, I probably have a pretty good immune system.

Truly, I refuse to respond to the media's overhype of this.

 

[clutter]

Is there any reason to think that this flu will be any worse than a seasonal flu any other year? My DD had the H1N1 in June (or maybe late May, I forget). She missed 2 1/2 days of school and was basically exhibiting bad cold like symptoms with one fever spike to 104. All in all, not a terrible sickness here. Neither DH nor I picked up the virus.

My dd probably had it in late June. Probably because the drs office was out of flu test kits, but her symptoms were identical to what they'd seen. She had a fever and a throat cough (not in her chest) for about 5 days. She generally doesn't get sick, doesn't catch colds, hasn't had strep in 6 years despite repeated exposure, but does have exercise-induced asthma. We're not germophobes. In the 5 days before she got sick, she'd spent two nights with two other families (I was travelling for work), then we spent two nights travelling with all the families from her soccer team. No one else came down with it. Go figure.

Btw, my dd has never had the flu. The last time I had it was in 1999. Since then, I've been vaccinated twice, she's never been.

OTOH, I've had two friends in their 30s and 40s hospitalized with pnumonia in the last month. Both tested negative for any flu.