Flu Lines

During the riots in the 60s the national guard was called out and a curfew was established. Now might be the time to enact such a measure. Why? Long lines of people queuing up to receive a limited number of flu shots seems counter productive. While most people are not infected allow for such a large congregations seems to us, whether waiting outside or inside for the vaccine, to be breeding ground for infection. We would discourage anyone from lining up excessively to receive treatment though we must admit awaiting further supplies to arrive seems extremely dangerous.

According to the manufacturer of the vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur, "Production of seasonal influenza vaccine for both Northern and Southern hemispheres is still a priority as seasonal influenza is a very serious illness, causing an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths per year, according to WHO global figures."

Only the protected can be certain of survival. While the figures are worldwide the Associated Press (AP) reports: "Since April, swine flu has killed more than 800 people in the U.S., including 86 children, 39 of them in the past month and a half, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of all hospitalizations since the beginning of September were people 24 and under." Locally we know the number to be to date in our jurisdiction as reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be in excess of 858 in our area alone. These are the actual figures reported to the CDC by our health department not reported to the public.

AP quotes the CDC as saying: "Federal officials counsel patience, saying that eventually there should be enough of both vaccines for everyone who wants them." The CDC reported through Dr. Anne Schuchat: "Influenza is widespread in the country and illness, hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase. 41 states are now identifying widespread disease from influenza, that's up from 37 last week. The other states are all seeing either regional or local activity. It's unprecedented for this time of year to have the whole country seeing such high levels of activity." (Listen)

The Associated Press added: "Flu vaccines are not nearly as profitable as other kinds of drugs, and most of the biggest vaccine makers have little incentive to switch from a method with which they are familiar. At its two plants in the Pocono Mountains town of Swiftwater, Sanofi Pasteur, the top U.S. supplier of seasonal vaccine, is churning out more than 75 million doses of swine flu vaccine and 50 million doses of the winter flu variety."

Sanofi Pasteur not getting with the party line reports: "For U.S. Residents Only - The $150 million, 140,000 square-foot vaccine facility is part of the company’s commitment to support public health and to protect individuals against seasonal and pandemic influenza. When operating at full capacity, the new influenza facility is expected to produce 100 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine annually. In total, sanofi pasteur will have a capacity of approximately 150 million does of trivalent seasonal vaccine per year in the U.S. – 50 million doses from the existing facility and 100 million doses from the new facility when operating at full capacity." (Video)

We love the Los Angeles Times (LA Times.com) but they (actually reporter Thomas H. Maugh II) gets it wrong: "(C)oncern is growing that the vaccine may arrive too late to do much good. Statistician Sherry Towers and Zhilan Feng of Purdue University reported last week in the journal Eurosurveillance that a mathematical model of the swine flu pandemic predicts that the disease will peak this week."

What Eurosurveillance report actually states first off: "(I)t should be noted that the actual periodic function underlying seasonal forcing of influenza has not been well studied, and the uncertainties in the model predictions arising from seasonal forcing assumptions are difficult to quantify."

Total Doses Shipped as of	10/14/09
District of Columbia Maryland Virginia	14500 130700 265100
TOTALS	410300

There are people infected and recovering. Our warnings are to those who aren't feeling well enough after four (4) days when you've taken care of yourself as soon as you've felt more miserable than you ever have. Get treatment and get it right away. Have someone with you - don't make an appointment - it's too late for that get the shot. Demand the shot. IF YOU'RE ILL. We know you won't be able to do this yourself but have someone available to fight for you. Get someone to fight for you. Demand treatment regardless of whether or not your physician believes you need it or not. What will getting the treatment do to hurt you? It will save your life.