US begins rolling out swine flu vaccine

[steven johnson]

The government is rolling out the first doses of swine flu vaccine with the first doses going to those over 49 and less than 2 years of age. Novartis announced Thursday it had begun delivering a first batch of swine flu shots. Clinical trials for pregnant women tested with the vaccine are expected to be complete by the end of October since they have had a "striking toll" with 28 deaths among pregnant women. The CDC also reported tha 300,000 courses of antiviral medicine, liquid Tamiflu, were released for children Wednesday.

The CDC warned that swine flu could infect up to half the US population this fall and winter and cause up to 90,000 deaths.

Saturday, 3 October 2009

The United States said Thursday it has begun implementing a massive campaign to vaccinate millions of Americans against swine flu, with the first 600,000 doses to be distributed in coming days.


Anne Schuchat, deputy director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said 25 areas across the country -- among the 50 states and four main metropolitan areas identified in the CDC program -- placed their initial vaccine orders Wednesday and will receive them by Tuesday.

"We are transitioning from the planning phase to the implementation phase," Schuchat told reporters. "This is really just the beginning."

The initial rollout, about two weeks earlier than expected, is welcome news to health experts who had expressed fears that the vaccine might arrive too late in the flu season to provide protection to the millions of Americans believed to be at risk.

US begins rolling out swine flu vaccine

[hlthe2b]

1. NO: nasal mist vaccine for those healthy 2years up to 49 years

You have it backwards.
Unfortunately, the nasal spray is no the form that can be used for those that may be most at risk (concomitant health problems), but the injectable should be coming soon.

[kestrel91316]

2. FWIW I just got my seasonal flu shot today at Walgreen's. My arm is

just a little sore (it's only been about 2 hours, so that is normal) and I feel fine. I got the killed, injectable form, not the live attenuated intranasal one, which is for under 50 IIRC and costs more. I paid $25, which is well worthi it because I could stand to lose a minimum of $1000 in income if I get the flu and miss work.

I plan on getting my H1N1 shot either late Oct or early Nov.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

3. Flumist is only approved for healthy people ages 2 to 49, not the other way around.