Wait For It!

We keep saying "It's Not Over!" We know no one is listening but still we shout in the wilderness because someday soon someone will. One of the down sides to the lack of deaths numbers and news reports of the "decline" is that people aren't getting in line to get the shot. It also could be that those in the "high risk" category have begun to reach their tipping point. We all still can't get the shot though some of us have been inoculated.

Though we can only speak to the national coverage and not the local. We'll make every effort to remedy this by this weekend to give you both actual on the spot coverage with pictures. According to Chicago Tribute, Boston.com, Cybercast News, Nevada Appeal:

Flu vaccine clinic turnout lower than expected - Officials were ready for 5,000 - Ann Scales, spokeswoman for the Boston Public Health Commission, said the turnout was lower than expected because fewer reported cases of flulike illnesses have been reported recently and because many city residents are already vaccinated. “That has suppressed interest in the vaccine,’’ she said. Panic about the swine flu is waning as many people with symptoms are opting to stay home and ride out the illness rather than going to their doctor, she said.

We still love former Governor and now Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, but we think she's "going rogue!" When she came to DC on the 19th of November to tout the increase in supplies we didn't have the vaccine. The conference doesn't appear anywhere on the website nor in our search through the normal media sources. Since that appearance Sebelius has said heads will roll! We believe her and it's not just because she scares us.

“Right now, as of today, we have 50 million doses not available and more is coming each and every day,” Sebelius told the crowd of about 100 people that gathered at the center to hear her and Spanish-speaking representatives from the CDC. “And so, if you haven’t had the opportunity to have a vaccination yet, more will be available.”

Almost ten (10) days later in the Maryland suburbs supplies were still lacking.

US struggles to keep up with demand vaccine - Just outside the capital, Washington DC, Mary Anderson, at the health department of Montgomery County, Maryland, said her region had only received half of vaccine order they placed. One the countries hardest hit by the swine flu outbreak, the US was struggling to keep up with demand, even as public concerns over the safety of the vaccine kept some people away from the queues for the jab. - Monsters and Critics News

The former Kansas governor added this at the earlier gathering:

“The vaccine will be available, and it will be free, and it will be available to everyone,” Sebelius said. “I’m here to remind you that the good news is we do have a vaccine. It does work against this flu, and it is safe."

We emphasize this statement because while the now Health and Human Services Secretary made it plain the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they have the 2009-2010 seasonal flu vaccine ready.

FDA Approves Agriflu Seasonal Influenza Vaccine - Another option to prevent illnesses caused by subtypes A and B influenza virus - Novartis is required to conduct further studies to verify that the vaccine will decrease seasonal influenza disease after vaccination. The company also manufactures another licensed seasonal influenza vaccine, Fluvirin, for use in the United States. Fluvirinis approved for people ages 4 years and older. Agriflu is not intended to protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza.

That's right the FDA says they don't know if it will work but they do know it won't work against the H1N1 virus - you know the one that's been killing us. She's really going rogue and she's not named Sarah! She's the other former female governor whose name starts with an "S!"

The problem with people not getting the H1N1 vaccine is being highlighted now that the supplies are becoming available but again primarily to the "most vulnerable" is fear and ignorance.

H1N1: Why I'm Willing To Get Vaccinated - Tyrone Jones - A 13-year-old child is five times more likely to contract the H1N1 than an adult because the virus feeds off less developed immune systems. H1N1 is a very contagious disease and nobody is naturally immune to it. Knowing this is enough to get me to run out for a vaccination. - NCMONLINE

Just last week we heard this:

Lessons learned from the H1N1 flu vaccine shortage - Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Tuesday that a major review and proposed overhaul of the government's efforts to develop new protections against pandemics, bioterrorism and other health threats has been initiated.

The shortage is currently a non-issue, as about 69 million doses are now available, however, the virus is still spreading widely and a third wave could occur later this winter, said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden. CDC reports in the Alabama region (Region 4), we are still experiencing elevated levels of activity, and our region has reported 37 pediatric deaths. - Baltimore Examiner

The Washington Post noted that we may have to wait a year to determine how many heads rolled:

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that she ordered the evaluation in part because the H1N1 vaccine shortage had highlighted the nation's dependence on antiquated technology. "We'll look for the fastest ways to move to new technologies that will let us quickly produce countermeasures that are more dependable and more robust," she told the American Medical Association's Third National Congress on Health System Readiness, which is being held in Washington. "Not just for flu and not just for infectious diseases, but for all the public health threats we face today." The review will be led by Nicole Lurie, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, and will be complete by "early next year," Sebelius said. - Washington Post

The rogue secretary's remarks can be found at Health and Human Services (HHS along with her testimonies and statement on the issues of the day. She's getting things done. It's up to us to queue up and get the shots when they're available. Unfortunately not enough of us are doing that. We can't wait until the lines open up for the rest of us so we can get the protection as well. Unfortunately everyone doesn't feel that way and their ignorance is resulting in their deaths.

Swine flu deaths higher among minorities, state says - Blacks and Hispanics in Illinois have died from swine flu at double the rate it has killed whites in the state, and swine flu has hospitalized the two minority populations at more than triple the rate for whites. Less access to health care, more chronic health problems and lower vaccination rates among the two minority groups probably play a role, Illinois officials said Friday at a meeting in Chicago where minorities were encouraged to be inoculated. - Chicago Tribune

Now that we know - though it's not our job - it's our mission like the rogue former Governor now HHS Secretary to do something. It's a matter of life and death.