Sunday, September 20, 2009

Not Enough H1N1 Vaccine Production

Yet, 10 percent of what IS produced will go to foreign countries.

Hey folks,

In this weeks Health and Science Segment, we are going to check in on the Swine Flu, H1N1 vaccine production. With three deaths right here in Sunny South Florida, and many more across the country OUTSIDE of Flu Season, many are concerned about what will happen when Flu Season comes back in full force.

On August 31 of this year, we got some bad news. It may be worse than we thought RIGHT NOW. Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 virus. According to WHO, there are now 12 Countries, including China and Singapore, reporting a mutation in the virus. That is NOT good folks. Such cases have also been found in Japan, US, Hong Kong, Denmark and Canada.

Still, the Experts say we need to take the New H1N1 Flu Shot. Problem two? There may not be enough to go around. According to Reuters - H1N1 vaccine production far less than forecast: WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) – Annual production of H1N1 vaccine will be "substantially less" than the 4.9 billion doses the World Health Organization (WHO) previously forecast was possible, a spokesman said on Friday.

WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said that based on clinical test results from some 25 drugmakers, weekly production was less than 94 million doses, although it seemed one dose would be enough to give immunity against the swine flu strain.


MAYBE. But then again, Do we KNOW that it is SAFE?

"The real figure will be substantially less than 4.9 billion," Hartl told reporters.

The WHO previously forecast one third of the world's nearly seven billion people could be affected by the H1N1 pandemic, but so far the vast majority of victims are suffering only mild symptoms.

Hartl gave no exact new forecast but noted WHO's previous estimate of 4.9 billion had been based on drugmakers switching all production of seasonal flu vaccine to the new vaccine against the H1N1 strain and getting good yields.

In a statement, the WHO said current supplies of pandemic vaccine are "inadequate for a world population in which virtually everyone is susceptible to infection."


So the experts were wrong again. Big surprise. It's out there. It's coming. TRUST me folks, if you start feeling ill. DO NOT WAIT! Go see your Doctor NOW. I waited. I was down for 10 days. Take precautions. Wash your hands. If you are around someone that appears ill, LEAVE. In line at a store? get out of line and wait. Do not mess around with this. If you do start feeling ill. STAY HOME! Do not infect anyone else. This is not the common cold we are talking about. This is serious stuff. Be smart, be cautious, be well.
Peter

Sources:
Indiatimes.com - Drug-resistant H1N1 reported in 12 countries
Reuters - H1N1 vaccine production far less than forecast: WHO

1 comment:

Condominiums in Toronto said...

One third of the planet affected??? That seems to me a bit too much. That would mean one out of three people has symptoms of this pandemic but yet I know nobody at work, in my family or friends that has any symptoms. Maybe those are predictions, but they still seem pretty high. We'll see I guess...

Take care, Elli