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.

Medical Professional Urges Doctors To Treat H1N1 Early

John DuBois, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Dr. Nikki Shindo of the World Health Organization encouraged clinicians Friday not to delay treatment of patients who show symptoms of the H1N1 virus. According to Shindo, treatment at early stage can stop the spread of virus.

"Do not delay the treatment, because sometimes clinician’s tend to wait... and this causes [an] unfortunate delay," said Shindo during a press conference.

"The influenza virus is stable.That means this vaccine is matching the circulating virus," Shindo added. "We expect adequate prevention and protection by the use of influenza vaccine."

Health And Security Officials Prep Small Business For H1N1

Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills announced a guide to prepare small businesses to plan for possible H1N1 outbreaks this fall.

"Small businesses employ half of the nation's work force, and they are the supply chain for many critical industries," Napolitano said Monday during a conference call with reporters.

The preparedness guide encourages small businesses to identify a work place coordinator for H1N1, examine policies for teleworking and medical leave, identify essential employees and business functions and prepare a business continuity plan.

Mills said having a plan to prevent H1N1 outbreaks in the workplace is a necessity, especially in a small business setting.

"If one or two employees are out even for a few days, it is a health concern and a bottom-line concern," she said.

Daniel Jernigan, Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Influenza Division, said integrating these practices into the workplace may take major adjustments such as people evaluating and changing their medical leave policies and developing the ability for employees to work from home.

Outbreaks of H1N1 have been occurring since early this Spring and will likely become more common during the regular flu season. The preparedness guide allows for small businesses to prepare for various levels of H1N1 severity.

"We need to be prepared for many possibilities...we need to put this high on the agenda because it is good for employees, good for customers and ... it is good for business owners," Mills said.

Cabinet Members Advise Government And Private Cooperation To Combat H1N1

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Department Of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that it was imperative that the private sector and the government work together to stop the spread of the H1N1 strain which is expected to make a resurgence in mid September.

"This a real shared responsibility. The federal government is doing our part," said Sebelius during a joint news conference Wednesday. "But we really rely on the private sector to make sure that Americans are as safe and secure as possible."

"A little planning now will help ensure that our economy withstands whatever the H1N1 throws us this fall," said Commerce Secretray Gary Locke.

Secretary Napolitano warned against failing to take immediate action to halt the virus.

"Lets not just play wait and see, lets be proactive," said Napolitano. "We are being proactive at the level we are at, but now we are asking the business community to be proactive too."

The new guidelines outline how businesses can help prevent the spread of disease within their workforce, through steps that include enforcing cleanliness standards, encouraging employees to get their regular flu shots and putting plans in place to accommodate the expected absences caused by H1N1.

Secretary Locke said that during the outbreak it would be essential for employers to send their employees home if they showed symptoms and allow them to take time off to recover.

"In America we love to praise puritan work ethic," said Locke. "But this fall it would serve the country better to praise common sense and responsibility."

Responding to the claim that the H1N1 vaccine would not be ready in time for the upcoming flu season, Secretary Sebelius said that production is on schedule.

"We are very much on target," Sebelius said. However, she added, "we never anticipated that all of the vaccine would be available day one, it will be on a role out basis."

To view the guidelines and for more information of preventing the spread of H1N1 visit www.flu.gov

Schools More Susceptible To Swine Flu

Schools are particularly susceptible to an H1N1 outbreak. According to Dr. Jon Kim Andrus, the Lead Technical Advisor for the Immunization Unit of the Pan American Health Organization, up to 33% of those in a school setting exposed to an H1N1 outbreak could become infected.

In the event of an outbreak “closing up schools in certain settings has been helpful,” Andrus said during his address to the National Swine Flu Conference. “Children are what we are calling the amplifiers of infection. There have been studies that have shown the prevention of influenza in children will reduce disease burden in all age groups.”

Still, Andrus warned, closing schools may not be a realistic step since the economic status of many nations prevents financially strapped parents from taking time off watch over infected children at home.