HHS Secretary Says 100 Million Doses Of H1N1 Vaccine Are Coming

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

The H1N1 flu virus is showing no signs of going away anytime soon, but more doses of the vaccine are being produced.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Thursday that 100 million doses of the H1N1 flu virus vaccine will be made available to the American people.

“Our message is take advantage of the increased supply, and get vaccinated as soon as you can,” she said.

"The vaccine was given to the high risk groups first to ensure that the limited vaccine would get to those most in danger of complications, added Sebelius, referring to pregnant women, people with asthma, small children and the elderly.

Sebelius noted that programs such as “Sid the Science Kid” as well as children's television characters like Elmo are teaching kids about how to properly cover a sneeze or cough.

Additionally, social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook are just a few “unconventional methods” that are helping to get the message out about the vaccine and prevent the spread of the flu, said Sebelius.

“You can’t mount a public response only inside the Beltway. It has to be a collaborative effort with partnerships on the ground, and that’s exactly what this response has been,” she said.

The Secretary urged people to go to www.flu.gov to find out more information about the H1N1 vaccine.

New H1N1 Vaccine Study Shows Good News For Pregnant Women

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Health officials announced today that there are about 30 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine available for states to order.

The annoucement was coupled with good news for people who health officials believe are at serious risk of contracting the virus. Anthony Facui, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that results from a series of vaccine tests done on groups such as pregnant women were encouraging.

“The data show that nearly all the pregnant women who received a single 15 microgram dose have a robust immune response that is likely predictive of protection,” Facui said.

He added that children between six months and nine-years-old who receive a 15 microgram dose of the vaccine had a “less robust immune response” and would most likely need a second dose of vaccine.

Not all of the news surrounding H1NI is positive, however. Anne Schuchat, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the virus has spread to all but two states in the U.S. Schuchat was hopeful that, as the number of hospitalizations and deaths as a result of the virus continue to increase, so will the medical response nationwide.

“We expect more vaccine doses to become available and eventually shipped out to the states for use,” she said.

A full report on the study was posted today on flu.gov.

Children Control Pelosi Press Conference

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s weekly press conference took a different turn today as she fielded questions from children instead of reporters.

The elementary schoolers were visiting the Capitol as part of the annual “Take Your Son’s and Daughter’s to work day.”

Pelosi was asked by children sitting in a circle around her questions such as: “What does the Speaker do?;” “What was the favorite law that you have passed?;” “How did you get your job,” and others.

When asked what she wanted to be as a child, Pelosi said “I wanted to be a Mom.”

A young boy asked Pelosi: “Why did you join them and not us, and by them I mean the Democrats, and by us I mean the Republicans?” Pelosi responded in good humor. “I am delighted you associate yourself with a political party. I wish more people would and I hope the next generation will take back the Republican Party for the grand old party that it used to be,” she said.

Pelosi was also asked what sports teams she supports. When asked between choosing sides between the Baltimore Orioles or the San Francisco Giants, Pelosi said it was a “tough choice.”

After distributing chocolate coins engraved with the Speaker of the House seal, Pelosi fielded questions from reporters.

Interview with Dr. E. Faye Williams

Dr. E. Faye Williams, National Chair of the National Congress of Black Women, discusses education and the Obama administration.

21st century may see decline of the US

"On the streets of Miami, an AK-47 is cheaper to buy than a Playstation", said Manny Diaz, Mayor of Miami and President of the US Conference of Mayors. He spoke about the challenge to the next presidential administration to invest in solutions to the growing problems that threaten America's cities and metropolitan areas.

Diaz said that over 85 percent of Americans live in metropolitan cities. In addition he said that 1 in 6 children in America currently live in poverty, and that 60 percent of children cannot read or do math at their appropriate grade level. In addition, he said that America's infrastructure is severely underfunded. He worries that in the 21st century we will see the economic decline of the United States much in the way Europe declined during the 20th century.

Though initially backing Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for president, Diaz has not given an official endorsement to either Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) or Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.). However, he did say that he would only consider backing either candidate should they choose to endorse the Mayors' 10-Point Plan, which outlines 10 policy issues that many mayors across the nation feel the upcoming presidential administration must address to foster stronger cities and metropolitan regions.