Swine Flu News

[sersee05]

My state isn't "widespread" here yet...I stress ...yet. It's coming. I was told by my states health department that I should call everyday and ask who has it. I ended up getting lucky and was told a county about an hour away from me had the injectables. I have talked to my pediatrician and have done as much research as I can. I am getting it for my son.

This is a kid who gets a cold and has rough asthma issues. A cold has turned into pneumonia, and he ended up in the hospital a couple of times. I can't imagine if he gets any type of flu. I vaccinate him against the flu so why should I hesitate about the h1n1 shot?

So I am taking him tomorrow..and just praying the vaccine is safe.. Our two week mark was Sunday for Disney...so I am hoping that even know it won't be exactly two weeks..he will have enough immunity by the time we go.

I think I can't worry anymore. I think it is more likely to get it from the plane and not so much Disney..being that you are in open air at the parks..I will just hand sanitize after rides..and do the best I can... That is all I can do ..I think if I postpone my trip...I am going down a road I don't want to live on..the one where I am afraid of everything and try to keep everyone in a bubble.

The health dept. guy had a lot of interesting things to say..One of which people die of the flu/pneumonia every year...but people chalk it up to .."it's the flu" because it isn't shocking anymore. Infact, they don't report a lot of the deaths. H1N1 is scary and worrisome so it is talked about everywhere. He said it is working because people are being more vigilant about covering their mouths when they sneeze and staying home when they are sick. He told me that most people don't stay home for a cold and would even go to work with the flu..but if it is Swine flu..you stay home. I found that quite interesting.

And since it is coming to my area..I know my kids can get it on the bus..or from a shopping cart...etc. I have to stop being so anxious over this and get my son the shot and go have fun in Disney!!! I hope I convinced myself!!!

 

[klj27]

I just called out state health dept H1N1 line and they said my son can get the vaccine while he is on tamiflu. I have a call in to the doctor's office to ask the same question.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

I just called out state health dept H1N1 line and they said my son can get the vaccine while he is on tamiflu. I have a call in to the doctor's office to ask the same question.

The concurrent use of TAMIFLU and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) intranasal has not been evaluated. However, due to the possibility for interference between these products, LAIV should not be given within 2 weeks before or 48 hours after taking TAMIFLU, unless it is deemed appropriate by your doctor. Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine can be administered at any time relative to use of TAMIFLU.

http://www.tamiflu.com/hcp/dosing/default.aspx

 

[kilee]

My doctor would not let me get my seasonal flu SHOT within 2 weeks of taking Tamiflu. He said it was for 2 reasons. The first being I should be as healthy as possible when getting any flu vaccine. The second reason was he felt there is a slight possibility that Tamiflu could compromise the effectiveness of Tamiflu. However, if you have a good relationship w/ your doctor, I'd follow their advice.

 

[LuvOrlando]

See below.
There are no words for how angry I am. Disappointed does not even begin to cover the helplessness a mother of 2 Asthmatic kids feels when faced with compulsory education. This Flu is running rampant throughout the country. A single high school in Chicago (see CBS2Chigaco . com) closed after reports of 900 kids out in one day: "Oct 21, 2009 5:09 am US/Central
School Shuts Down After Major Flu Outbreak
972 Students At St. Charles East Call In Sick; School To Close Tomorrow And May Not Reopen Until Monday"

I can keep my kids away from the Mall, from Movie Theaters, from
amusement parks, from vacation, from airplanes, from food shopping. I even kept my poor DS away from his first Middle School Dance. What I can't do is keep him out of the School because all the truancy laws are so strict. I am being forced to send my kids to an unsafe place every day. This Flu is not following the traditional timely ebb and flow of Flu season. What on earth am I supposed to do? There are no words for how I feel right now. I think November is just too late to be of any consequence at all.





Boston . com

Swine flu vaccine deliveries run late
With demand far outstripping supply, state cancels clinics

By Elizabeth Cooney and Kay Lazar
Globe Correspondent | Globe Staff / October 21, 2009


Swine flu vaccine shipments to Massachusetts are running three weeks behind schedule, forcing the state to direct local health departments to cancel vaccine clinics scheduled for next month.

At the same time, shortages of the vaccine against seasonal flu strains are also being reported, as unusually high demand is outpacing the supply. Communities from Scituate to Somerville and Cambridge said they were postponing vaccine clinics aimed at protecting the public against both types of the flu.

The problems seen in Massachusetts reflect a nationwide shortage, as production facilities - pressed to make two types of vaccine at once - have been unable to churn out adequate amounts of either one.

“We will do everything within our power to get vaccine to the residents of the state as soon as possible,’’ state Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach said in an interview yesterday. But the state now expects to receive only about 700,000 doses of the swine flu vaccine by the first week of November, down from previous projections of 1.2 million.

“I certainly understand and share the frustration of those who want to have access to the vaccine,’’ Auerbach added. “We’re disappointed that it’s not here now, but we understand that it is an enormous challenge for companies that are producing it and for the federal government, and we think they are doing their best.’’

So far, Massachusetts has distributed 300,000 swine flu doses, less than one-tenth of the total the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has allocated for the state. Those early doses have been reserved for people at the highest risk, including pregnant women and young people, who have accounted for a disproportionate share of both hospitalizations and deaths nationwide from the novel H1N1 virus, which first surfaced in the spring.

Twelve swine flu deaths have been reported in Massachusetts, but only two since July. The federal government calls flu activity - which includes both swine flu and seasonal flu - widespread around the country, but here, doctors have seen a smaller rise in the number of patients coming in with flu-like symptoms this fall.

“Compared to other years in October, we are seeing an increase in influenza-like illnesses, but compared to what other states are seeing right now, we are not seeing the significant uptick they are,’’ said state public health spokeswoman Jennifer Manley. “We do expect the numbers to increase. We don’t think we are immune to H1N1.’’

The state had been working with local health authorities to plan swine flu vaccination clinics next month, but was informed by the CDC late last week that production was lagging. On Friday, it alerted local health departments by e-mail that “public and school based clinics tentatively scheduled for November should be postponed indefinitely.’’Continued...

Page 2 of 2 --

For local public health boards, the delays have been frustrating.
Discuss
COMMENTS (14)

In Scituate, Public Health Director Jennifer Sullivan said she had to put off swine flu clinics tentatively planned for the middle and high schools.

“They’re asking us to schedule clinics, and then they tell us there isn’t any supply for those clinics, then they tell us to plan clinics because supplies are coming, and then they tell us it isn’t,’’ Sullivan said.

Somerville city officials also have put vaccination clinics on hold. “We’re kind of on a just wait and see basis,’’ said city nursing manager Maureen Monagle.

Physicians and community leaders report unusually heavy demand for the vaccines, leading many places to exhaust their supply of seasonal shots and nasal sprays.

The Cambridge Public Health Department yesterday postponed eight remaining vaccination clinics after running out of the seasonal vaccine on Saturday, when workers inoculated about 1,350 adults and children in just over two hours and had to turn away at least 50 others.

“About twice the number of folks showed up at our early October clinics than in previous years,’’ Suzy Feinberg, spokeswoman for the Cambridge Public Health Department, said in an e-mail. In the past 10 days, Cambridge has given nearly the same number of flu vaccinations as it typically does in the entire flu season.

Dr. Ben Kruskal, director of infection control at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, one of the largest physician groups in Eastern Massachusetts, said that by the end of September, Harvard Vanguard had dispensed about 50,000 doses, a total that isn’t typically reached until sometime in November. But the seasonal vaccine is almost gone.

Harvard Vanguard received only about 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, a “pittance’’ compared with the group’s 400,000 total patient population, Kruskal said. Those vaccines have been distributed to the patients most at risk for complications from swine flu.

Patients who encounter shortages at their physicians’ offices are not faring a whole lot better at pharmacies. CVS has announced that it will end its seasonal flu clinics tomorrow - more than a month early - because of vaccine shortages. The company said its MinuteClinics will continue to administer the shots, as long as their supply is “replenished as frequently as possible.’’

Auerbach said the state has received 70 percent of its allotment of seasonal flu vaccine, which it sends out to local health departments and some health providers. The balance of the state’s order will arrive by the end of November, he said, before the traditionally busy months for the seasonal flu.

Swine flu vaccine is being distributed only by state health departments. Auerbach said he is talking to local boards of health about possibly holding swine flu clinics in schools rather than town halls when shipments finally arrive, to target children and young adults, a group at high-risk.

People who don’t fall into the high-risk categories may have to wait until December or January, when the rest of the state’s 3.5 million-dose H1N1 vaccine allotment is expected to arrive.

“When we get to having that amount of vaccine is not easy to predict,’’ Auerbach said. “I would just say this is totally an estimate. We have learned not to use any of these [estimates] as a certainty.’’

Globe correspondent L.E. Crowley contributed to this report.
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

 

[maroo]

See below.
There are no words for how angry I am. Disappointed does not even begin to cover the helplessness a mother of 2 Asthmatic kids feels when faced with compulsory education. This Flu is running rampant throughout the country. A single high school in Chicago (see CBS2Chigaco . com) closed after reports of 900 kids out in one day: "Oct 21, 2009 5:09 am US/Central
School Shuts Down After Major Flu Outbreak
972 Students At St. Charles East Call In Sick; School To Close Tomorrow And May Not Reopen Until Monday"

I can keep my kids away from the Mall, from Movie Theaters, from
amusement parks, from vacation, from airplanes, from food shopping. I even kept my poor DS away from his first Middle School Dance. What I can't do is keep him out of the School because all the truancy laws are so strict. I am being forced to send my kids to an unsafe place every day. This Flu is not following the traditional timely ebb and flow of Flu season. What on earth am I supposed to do? There are no words for how I feel right now. I think November is just too late to be of any consequence at all.

Could you home school your kids? I know there are lots of groups that share the responsibility of different subjects? Maybe you could hook up with some of those families?

 

[laurie31]

Could you home school your kids? I know there are lots of groups that share the responsibility of different subjects? Maybe you could hook up with some of those families?

Well, if she hooks up with other families, then she's still getting flu exposure...

It's my homeschooled DD and not my public schooled DD who is sick with flu-like symptoms right now. She's coughing so much I think she's going to vomit. She has low-grade fever as well. She does go to 3 classes with other homeschooled kids, plus she takes dance lessons at a studio, plus we go to church, and I wasn't keeping her out of the grocery store or other public places. She could have caught whatever she has...anyplace.

For the record, I'm talking about the places she went before she got sick. she did stay home from "school" (she takes English through our co-op group) and she won't be going anywhere tomorrow either.

So homeschooling is not necessarily the answer, unless you really want to barricade yourself inside your home, and even then, you aren't "safe." Your mail has been touched by who knows how many people, you would still bring in groceries. Who loaded those gallons of milk into the grocer's refrigerated display case? Germs are EVERYWHERE. Handwashing and avoiding touching your face are your best defenses, along with things like eating healthy and getting enough sleep, to keep the immune system at its best.

(By "you" I mean the general you, not any specific poster)


I do share LuvOrlando's frustration, though. All that deliberation about whether or not to get the vaccine for our kids and it may be a totally moot point.

I literally just finished reading our local paper, and the front page story was how we (this state) may not get vaccine until DECEMBER now! I mentioned in another post how the state health dept. had set up school-based clinics for the first week in November. This would mean a second clinic in December for all those who need two doses (the children 9 and under). Now...if we don't even START until December, the elementary school kids won't be fully protected until mid-JANUARY! Holy COW, will it even be worth it by then???

 

[maroo]

For those interested, there is a hearing right now about the lack of H1N1 vaccine.

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

 

[LuvOrlando]

I read that story, thanks for posting it.

So, in a nutshell there are 5,000 cases reported (not to mention the innumerable cases where people just deal with it at home) compared to 7 last year. 5,000 / 7 is 714.28 times as many as last year and all these people are roaming around for what, 2 days maybe in the prodromal phase/ incubation period before symptoms are clearly defined with no clue they are spreading it. So I am supposed to be pacified with having enough next month, which mean that MAYBE people like my kids might have immunity by Thanksgiving.

What use is that to me or my kids?

I have been considering home schooling my kids for the remainder of the month but am not sure if it would do any good. My DH is still out and about at work and can just as easily bring it in to our home.

It is unreal to me that in today's day and age with all the money being thrown every which way my kids are no better off that my grandmother was, 10 years old in 1918, left to fend for themselves medically and hoping for the best.

 

[Poohs Pal]

DD called and told me that today she was able to get the H1N1 shot as an employee at the Hospital where she works here in Michigan. Hopefully it won't be long before the rest of us will be able to get the shot. Susan

 

[Va-bear]

There are no words for how angry I am. Disappointed does not even begin to cover the helplessness a mother of 2 Asthmatic kids feels when faced with compulsory education.....
.....What I can't do is keep him out of the School because all the truancy laws are so strict. I am being forced to send my kids to an unsafe place every day.

I have been considering home schooling my kids for the remainder of the month but am not sure if it would do any good. My DH is still out and about at work and can just as easily bring it in to our home.

It is unreal to me that in today's day and age with all the money being thrown every which way my kids are no better off that my grandmother was, 10 years old in 1918, left to fend for themselves medically and hoping for the best.

Not trying to sound negative, at all, but I am honestly confused. You state how mad you are and that you are 'forced' to send your kids to an 'unsafe' place but then say you are only 'considering' home schooling your kids? I assumed, from your first post, that your district did not allow home-schooling? If it is an option, why wouldnt you take it if you are that worried about the school? As their advocate, if you feel their school is unsafe, you should fend for them. (I do not advocate children staying home from school myself, but then I dont think of it as 'unsafe' - just one more place to be worried about.)

As an aside to that - if you do opt to keep them home, it _does_ offer them some level of protection. There are several 'rules' you can set-up to help safe-guard your home:
- When anyone who's been out in the 'real world' comes in they leave their shoes by the front door.
-They then go directly to the bath room and wash up for atleast 1 minute using soap and as hot water as they can stand.
- All are instructed to avoid touching their eyes or mouths as much as possible
- All door knobs and frequently used surfaces are cleaned 2-3 times a day w/ alcohol based cleaner or 10% bleach.
- Towels are assigned to a person - never shared - and increase the washing schedule for them.

There are many others you can find out there (CDC, etc.) but these basic ones _can_ really cut down on the germs entering/invading your home.

Goodluck to all w/ this - I am terribly down as the clinic at my sons school tomorrow was canceled....

 

[C.Ann]

So, in a nutshell there are 5,000 cases reported (not to mention the innumerable cases where people just deal with it at home) compared to 7 last year. 5,000 / 7 is 714.28 times as many as last year and all these people are roaming around for what, 2 days maybe in the prodromal phase/ incubation period before symptoms are clearly defined with no clue they are spreading it. So I am supposed to be pacified with having enough next month, which mean that MAYBE people like my kids might have immunity by Thanksgiving.

What use is that to me or my kids?

It is unreal to me that in today's day and age with all the money being thrown every which way my kids are no better off that my grandmother was, 10 years old in 1918, left to fend for themselves medically and hoping for the best.

I agree.. It's so terribly frustrating..

I'm sorry, but I find this delay ridiculous - and really can't see how it's going to do much good by the time it finally does arrive..

 

[JoyG]

I think I've pretty much decided I'm gonna try to find the vaccine out of state and drive if I have to.

Do you think a vaccination clinic open to the general public will accept someone from out of state? I will pay out of pocket for the shots.

My area has no vaccines. I've called all over the place. The daughter of the director of the county health dept. has the flu right now. If he couldn't get his own daughter vaccinated, what hope do my kids have? How long can I reasonably expect them to attend school without catching this? It's a ticking time bomb and with their asthma things will get ugly.

Next question...is your area having an H1N1 clinic? Know of any areas that are? We want to get this done ASAP.

We will fan out in a 12 hour radius from western NY.

 

[LeslieG]

It's so frustrating. I'm in Ohio, and if you go to their website, they have a map of locations and show that several places have the vaccine, but when I call, they say they haven't gotten any vaccine. Makes it kind of hard to figure out what's going on, and also wastes a lot of time. Doesn't seem like it would be too hard not to list places that they haven't even shipped the vaccine to.

 

[N.Bailey]

My son was sent to the emergency room from school last Thursday. They did the rapid test and it came back negative, but I think that's what was wrong with him. His blood pressure was racing because he was afraid at what was happening to him. He just couldn't stand up because he was so dizzy. He was congested, but not overly so and they couldn't find anything else wrong with him so home he went.

So far this week, they've been averaging almost 30% of the student body being absent, but they will not close the school down. 1 kid went into 1 of my daughter's classes this afternoon and said he had FOUR students in his class and they were still doing the regular assignment.

I think it's too late for us because I think we've all had it. I've had a headache everyday since last week and I still have it though it gets a little better each day. My daughter was vomiting all last week, then my son started at the end of the week. Luckily, no fevers. I am angry though that the school is willing to risk the health of the students who haven't been infected yet. It's almost like they want to help make sure each and every student gets it ASAP so the district can move forward without anyone else getting sick. It's just not right!!

 

[C.Ann]

So far this week, they've been averaging almost 30% of the student body being absent, but they will not close the school down. 1 kid went into 1 of my daughter's classes this afternoon and said he had FOUR students in his class and they were still doing the regular assignment.

I think it's too late for us because I think we've all had it. I've had a headache everyday since last week and I still have it though it gets a little better each day. My daughter was vomiting all last week, then my son started at the end of the week. Luckily, no fevers. I am angry though that the school is willing to risk the health of the students who haven't been infected yet. It's almost like they want to help make sure each and every student gets it ASAP so the district can move forward without anyone else getting sick. It's just not right!!

DGD is 11 and there have been so many kids absent that her literature teacher isn't even giving out "regular" assignments.. She has encouraged all children who feel ill to STAY HOME and not to worry about missing any work - their health is more important..

So far the school is "mum" on the absenteesim - although there has been a confirmed cased of H1N1 at the high school level..

ETA: That's now 4 confirmed cases in the high school.. Ugh!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I think I've pretty much decided I'm gonna try to find the vaccine out of state and drive if I have to.

Do you think a vaccination clinic open to the general public will accept someone from out of state? I will pay out of pocket for the shots.

My area has no vaccines. I've called all over the place. The daughter of the director of the county health dept. has the flu right now. If he couldn't get his own daughter vaccinated, what hope do my kids have? How long can I reasonably expect them to attend school without catching this? It's a ticking time bomb and with their asthma things will get ugly.

Next question...is your area having an H1N1 clinic? Know of any areas that are? We want to get this done ASAP.

We will fan out in a 12 hour radius from western NY.

we are in the Syracuse area - and I believe I heard U of Rochester was handling it for the State.

We are to have night time clinincs at the schools, but have been told not to expect anything until mid-November.

Wish that was more helpful.

 

[S. C.]

Grandson got a note home from school yesterday. 1 confirmed and 1 unconfirmed case in his school.

 

[taximomfor4]

It's so frustrating. I'm in Ohio, and if you go to their website, they have a map of locations and show that several places have the vaccine, but when I call, they say they haven't gotten any vaccine. Makes it kind of hard to figure out what's going on, and also wastes a lot of time. Doesn't seem like it would be too hard not to list places that they haven't even shipped the vaccine to.

If it helps, my county told us that it's all delayed here in Ohio. Nowhere to go to get a shot (or mist). The schools sent home forms for their vax clinic, but we have a week to turn it in, and then they will notify us 1 to 2 WEEKS before the date they'll be administering them. So minimum 3 more WEEKS. *SUPPOSEDLY, they want to send to schools before other vax clinics, because the vax clinics are running out before end of day, and school kids specifically are getting left out of the vax program.

 

[taximomfor4]

My son was sent to the emergency room from school last Thursday. They did the rapid test and it came back negative, but I think that's what was wrong with him. His blood pressure was racing because he was afraid at what was happening to him. He just couldn't stand up because he was so dizzy. He was congested, but not overly so and they couldn't find anything else wrong with him so home he went.

So far this week, they've been averaging almost 30% of the student body being absent, but they will not close the school down. 1 kid went into 1 of my daughter's classes this afternoon and said he had FOUR students in his class and they were still doing the regular assignment.

I think it's too late for us because I think we've all had it. I've had a headache everyday since last week and I still have it though it gets a little better each day. My daughter was vomiting all last week, then my son started at the end of the week. Luckily, no fevers. I am angry though that the school is willing to risk the health of the students who haven't been infected yet. It's almost like they want to help make sure each and every student gets it ASAP so the district can move forward without anyone else getting sick. It's just not right!!

I hope your household recovers quickly. We have been ill here too. 3 weeks now, 1 or 2 at a time. GETTING OLD!! I understand the not closing schools, though -- the flu is congagious during the podromal phase (before symptoms show up) for 1 to 2 DAYS. SO no reason to close schools, it won't prevent the spread. Basically, our state, I think, gave the school districts a percentage. If absences reach that percentage, school will be cancelled. They can and will have school till they are just too short staffed to do so.

Anyway, just wanted to wish you well again.