This whole H1N1 promotion never seemed to pass the smell test. Now it's declining. What will determine "another wave" of the flu? I hope it's not vaccine sales.
Novel influenza A H1N1 virus activity continued to decline in the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with only 11 states reporting widespread flu activity for the week ending Dec. 12, down from 14 the previous week.
Both Georgia and South Carolina are reporting regional activity, the next lowest level. Georgia reported eight hospitalizations and one death for the week ending Dec. 15, its latest report.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 24 hospitalizations but no deaths in the week ending Dec. 12.
Both states have seen 40 confirmed deaths from the new virus.
Flu experts are split on whether there will be another wave of illness after the first of the year, as has happened in past pandemics, so health officials are still urging people to get vaccinated against the novel virus.
As of Friday, more than 100 million doses had been produced and more than 85 million shipped, including 2.7 million to Georgia and 1.1 million to South Carolina, according to CDC records.
The Richmond County Health Department will be distributing more vaccine against the novel influenza A H1N1 virus today.
The vaccine will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the health department's administration section at 1916 North Leg Road, Building D. The vaccine is for anyone 6 months or older. Children under age 10 will likely need a second shot within a month.
The vaccine is free, but those on Medicaid, Medicare or the State Health Benefit Plan are asked to bring their cards with them.
The Aiken County Health Department will distribute the vaccine by appointment from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and Dec. 31 at the health department, 828 Richland Ave. W. Call (800) 450-1687 or (803) 642-7543.
Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
This whole H1N1 promotion never seemed to pass the smell test. Now it's declining. What will determine "another wave" of the flu? I hope it's not vaccine sales.
My sympathies lie with Tom Corwin who has been assigned to cover this beat beat. It's got to be difficult to provide frequent updates on a non-story. Maybe Johnny or Preston can toss a real story his way now and again.
For another view you can check out www.drtenpenny.com Maybe the reason for the decline is less people taking the shot. One theory is that as more take the shot the more you spread the disease. The media has always inflated the flu deaths each year from the actual about 1600 to about 35,000 apparently to sell more shots. They lump pnuemonia deaths in with flu to get the number up.
Another crackpot theory from soldout. And soldout, NOBODY has ever died from the flu. They die from complications, as in pneumonia. I guess soldout forgot about the great pandemic of 1917-1919, that killed millions across the world, when there was no vaccines.
he following article talks about how the 1918 flu was caused by the vaccinations given to the military
http://www.whale.to/vaccine/sf1.html
OMG! H1N1 flu! Thousands dead! Vaccine in limited supply . . . and being given to big corporations! Bush should be impeached! Who's president? Really . . . really? Nevermind.
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