Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Anne Schuchat, Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases acknowledged the slow production of H1N1 vaccines, but says there are nearly 50 million doses available to the States for use.

“Like everyone, I’m disappointed in the initial production,” said Schuchat during a hearing with the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “However, today we can announce there are 49.9 million doses available of H1N1 vaccine for the states to order.”

“Its not as much as we wanted to have by now, or, frankly what we needed to have by now, but every dose is being rapidly moved out,” Schuchat added.

Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) praised the initial response to the virus, but also recognized the dangers posed by the vaccine shortage.

“The hope was that a robust vaccine supply would arrive before infections began to soar and everyone worked as quickly as possible to meet that goal. These hopes were not met. The past several weeks have reminded us that the process of making flu vaccines is unpredictable and challenging,” said Waxman.

Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Nicole Lurie was grilled by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Oregon), who was diagnosed in late October with H1N1.

“We had testimony September 15 from Secretary Sebelius and everything seemed to be on track and fine. So, explain who, did the manufacturers, weren’t they straight with you?” asked Walden.

“There’s nobody to blame here, there’s no smoking gun,” Lurie said.

CDC estimates nearly 22 million Americans have been infected with H1N1. Of the 22 million infected, 98,000 were hospitalized and nearly 4,000 have dead.

Senate Health Education and Labor Pension Committee Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) says Monday during a hearing that employers are already handling paid sick leave appropriately and no interference from the government is needed. (0:34)

 

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Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) urges Congress Monday during a hearing to enact legislation that would mandate paid sick leave for employees with H1N1. (0:19)

 

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

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) urged Congress Tuesday to consider legislation that would mandate paid sick leave for employees with the H1N1 virus.

“Paid sick days have always been a good and common sense idea, but in light of the recent H1N1 epidemic it has also become a necessary one,” DeLauro said while testifying to the Senate Health, Education and Labor Pensions Committee.

According to the Department of Labor and Statistics, only one in four low wage workers have access to paid sick days. These employees often work jobs that require frequent contact with the public. Adding to the problem is the fact that many workers go into work when sick in order to maintain the income they need.

“This isn’t just a workers’ rights issue, it’s a public health emergency,” said Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.). “Families should not have to choose between staying healthy and making ends meet.”

DeLauro worked with the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) earlier this year to push the Healthy Families Act, a bill that would mandate employers to guarantee employees one hour off for every 30 hours worked, allowing employees to earn up to seven sick days a year. Such a bill is necessary now, said DeLauro.

HELP Committee Ranking member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) said legislation that forced employers to provide paid sick days would be detrimental to small businesses that are already struggling to retain employees during economic hardships.

“Many employers are not able to maintain current payrolls, which is evidenced by the rise in unemployment,” Enzi said. “If this bill is enacted, employers will adjust somewhere either by reducing current healthcare… or by downsizing their number of employees.”

Many Republicans shared similar concerns when DeLauro and Kennedy urged passage of the bill in May. Dodd argued that given the current spread of H1N1, the bill is necessary now.

“If paid sick leave had been a reality when this pandemic began, we would be in better shape,” Dodd said. “I want it in place immediately to help parents and workers.”

Bruce Gellin, Director of the National Vaccine Program Office, acknowledges that some Americans are concerned over the safety of the H1N1 vaccine. Gellin says there has been a robust vaccine safety system is in place and that enhancements have been made. (0:49)

 

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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.

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.”

Dr. Nikki Shindo of the World Health Organization encourages clinicians 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. (0:21)

 

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Daniel Jernigan of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Influenza Division says there are two possible scenarios and severities of H1N1 outbreaks: One in which the disease is moderate but widespread, the other being if the disease changes and causes more illness. (0:42)

 

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Small Business Administrator Karen Mills explains how new guidebook will assist small businesses in taking appropriate steps to prepare for H1N1 outbreaks by providing information regarding telecommuting and hygiene protocol. (0:35)

 

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