Flu Pandemic – A Perspective on Swine Flu

The Swine Flu (H1N1) is turning into an ongoing story which can leave many of the public dazed and confused.

I’ve been covering various dangerous influenza occurrences for years and have a bit of perspective which some others may lack.

I hope you find this summary of the current situation is useful.

The Swine Flu is as dangerous as the seasonal flu for everyone who gets the infection.

It is considerably more dangerous for some groups, including almost everyone under the age of 25 to 30.

The most recent news is the negative report from Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. is the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States.

http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/about/directors/lectures/NatureReviewsDrugDiscovery.htm

The gist of the data is that there have been no particular or unusual safety issues seen in those who have received the Swine Flu vaccine.

http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/Flu/understandingFlu/2009h1n1.htm

The Swine Flu is most dangerous to individuals under about 30 years of age, pregnant women, and some others, including obese adults and those with existing respiratory conditions or even a current infection.

Although those over about 65 years of age may be less likely to actually get the Swine Flu because they probably have some immunity from a similar virus in their childhood, anyone who gets the Swine Flu is at least at as much risk as they would be from the seasonal flu.

Those who have underlying conditions are most likely to succumb to pneumonia or other respiratory involvement.

Otherwise completely healthy younger individuals appear to be in danger from their own immune systems which can become too active in fighting the infection and actually cause harm.

Some useful resources include:

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/ – a site intended to provide various resources mostly for non-scientists and other non medical professionals.

Information about the ongoing monitoring of any adverse reactions to the H1N1 flu vaccine is at

http://www.flu.gov/news/blogs/directingsafety.html

A detailed explanation of the activities is at

http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/monitor_immunization_safety.html

Flu vaccine safety and side effects are covered at http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/vsafety/index.html

The general CDC page for 1009 H1N1 Swine Flu

This site includes links for individuals, those caring for someone with the flu, professionals, school administrators, and others.

Some of my own earlier reports on Swine Flu are:

Lies, Damn Lies, and The Flu Vaccine

Nov 3, 2009 … Calling the H1N1 flu vaccine a NEW vaccine is highly misleading and downright dishonest but you have to actually think to get it straight.

Why does swine flu kill healthy people

High risk children

Swine Flu Hoaxes, lies, and misstatements

Swine Flu Prevention

I believe these are the most useful of my own reports but you can find all of them by searching Newsblaze.com for “mccormick swine flu” (without the quotes.)

Links to other Newsblaze.com stories on influenza usually appear in a box below any swine flu story and you can search for them using the term “swine flu” or “H1N1.”

Some acronyms you will encounter (taken from the government flu site and other sources)

ACIP-Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

AAAAI-American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

AAN-American Academy of Neurology

AEFI-Adverse Event Following Immunization

BARDA-Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority

CDC-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CISA-Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment

CMS-Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

CPT-Current Procedural Terminology

DMSS-Defense Medical Surveillance System

DoD-Department of Defense

EIS-Epidemic Intelligence Service

FDA-Food and Drug Administration

GBS-Guillain-Barre Syndrome

H1N1 VSRAWG-Vaccine Safety Risk Assessment Working Group

HHS-United States Department of Health and Human Services

HRSA-Health Resources and Services Administration

IHS-Indian Health Service

IIS-Immunization Information Systems

ILI-Influenza-Like Illness

IOM-Institute of Medicine

MCOs-Managed Care Organizations

NIH-National Institutes of Health

NIIP-National Influenza Immunization Program

NVAC-National Vaccine Advisory Committee

NVPO-National Vaccine Program Office

OTIS-Organization of Teratology Information Specialists

PRISM-Post-Licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring

RCA-Rapid Cycle Analysis

RMEs-Reportable Medical Event systems

RTIMS-Real Time Immunization Monitoring System

SEC-Slone Epidemiology Center

SME-Subject Matter Expert

VA-Department of Veterans Affairs

VAERS-Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

VAMPSS-Vaccines and Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System

VSD-Vaccine Safety Datalink

WHO – World Health Organization (a U.N. agency)

He also maintains a HON certified medical information web site, newmedicineonline.com along with several blogs, some of which can be found at the medical site.

Contact John through NewsBlaze.