H1N1 vaccine: Many can't get it; some don't want it

Nov. 10, 2009 | Nick Roman and Rob Strauss | KPCC

Supply isn’t keeping up with demand when it comes to the H1N1 vaccine. But an official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the situation is beginning to improve.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC’s chief health officer for H1N1 response, told KPCC’s Patt Morrison that vaccine production hasn’t gone as well as manufacturers had hoped.

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“I think the fundamental challenge right now is that the production of the virus has been slower than expected because the virus is not growing well in eggs,” said Dr. Schuchat.

“It’s improving in terms of the yields we’re seeing. But right now, we’re at a situation where the supply is not up to the tremendous demand that we’re seeing.”

Dr. Schuchat said twice the number of H1N1 vaccine doses are available today as compared to two weeks ago.

A national poll by the Harvard School of Public Health suggests only about a third of adults who’ve tried to get the H1N1 vaccine have been able to find it.

But some who could have the H1N1 vaccine say they don’t want it. University of Pennsylvania professor Art Caplan says refusing the vaccine is distressing – and dangerous. Caplan, who studies medical bioethics, says it might be time for a few “fireside chats.”

“Not just from the president, but the surgeon general and the CDC head,” said Caplan.

“There’s so much fear and misunderstanding out there that we really have to mount a much more sustained campaign to take it on. When so many people say ‘I don’t need this right now. I wouldn’t get this vaccine,’ you know that you haven’t done the job yet.”

That job doesn’t appear to be done in L.A. County.

Public health director Jonathan Fielding today told the Board of Supervisors that H1N1 vaccinations rates among African-Americans are lower than he expected. He said data suggests there’s a “lack of willingness” in the black community to get vaccinated.

Alan Cain
3 months ago

Pointedly, the wing nut side of the Right is busily drumming the conspiracy drum, saying that the vaccine is, 1.) a conspiracy to kill people, 2.) part of the Illuminati plan to take over the world, 3.) a Ukrainian plot to kill people, 4.) a plan by Obama to kill the white folks, and so forth.

It is almost impossible to convince True Believers that the world is round.Have a nice millennium, eh?

Dr. Bill Benton
3 months ago

More irresponsible journalism. The figures do not warrant the label of pandemic. And, the vaccine features some clear health risks.

Thimerosal (Mercury containing substance), used as a vaccine preservative

Thimerosal is heavily implicated as a major cause of the
mass generational epidemic in developmental disorders
(including the autism spectrum disorders, ADD, ADHD
and OCD), endocrine-system dysfunction, and immune-system-related chronic diseases of the lungs,
bowel, pancreas, liver and cardiovascular system.

Other components: Formaldehyde (a neurotoxin and carcinogen), egg protein, contaminant viruses,
antibiotics, and detergent.

Squalene

Depending on the manufacturer, H1N1 may contain a potentially debilitating oil based adjuvant (additive)
primarily composed of squalene (MF59, AS03, AS04).
All laboratory rats injected with squalene (oil)adjuvants developed a disease that left them crippled. Injected squalene can cause severe arthritis
and severe immune responses such
as autoimmune arthritis and lupus.

Anyone with a sense of history will remember that the 1976 swine flu "pandemic" never panned out, and there were many people with adverse reactions, who won $ millions in lawsuits. Many of these fell victim to Guillain Barre Syndrome, a serious neurological disorder.

GR
2 months, 3 weeks ago

It basically boils down to one question...Are you more afraid of the H1N1 virus? Or the vaccine?

I for one am more worried about the vaccine than the actual virus.

Just my opinion.

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