Recombinomics: US Emergency Declarations Raise Pandemic Concerns

Recombinomics Commentary 22:43
October 29, 2009
New York Gov. David Paterson has declared a state of emergency because of the rise in swine flu cases.
The executive order means that far more health care professionals – including dentists – will be permitted to administer vaccines with only brief training. The order is needed to suspend provisions of state [...]

Scott McPherson: Underachieving virus, mixed Federal messages contribute to H1N1 swine flu vaccine debacle

In yesterday’s blog, I mentioned what I thought were the root causes of the H1N1v vaccine shortage/delay situation. 
So as I always try to do, I reached out to an expert to get his opinion and bounce theories off of him.  In this case, the expert is one of the top scientists in the field of vaccine [...]

Government may block internet during pandemic

Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:53pm EDT
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Securities exchanges have a sound network back-up if a severe pandemic keeps people home and clogging the Internet, but the Homeland Security Department has done little planning, Congressional investigators said on Monday.
The department does not even have a plan to start [...]

NPR: Swine Flu Vaccine Shortage: Why?

by Richard Knox
October 26, 2009
Millions of Americans already have been infected with swine flu. Forty-six states have widespread flu, and the president has declared a national emergency.
But only recently have U.S. health officials discovered why manufacturers can’t deliver as much swine flue vaccine as expected.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say for [...]

Greece: Half of Greeks set to avoid swine flu jab

Almost one in two Greeks say they will not get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available, despite the government’s plans to inoculate the entire population against the potentially fatal virus.
According to a survey conducted by the University of Athens and the Opinion polling company, 33.3 percent of some 3,000 households questioned said they would [...]

Obama declares swine flu a national emergency

Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:46pm EDT
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has declared 2009 H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, the White House said on Saturday.
The declaration will make it easier for U.S. medical facilities to handle a surge in flu patients by allowing the waiver of some requirements of Medicare, Medicaid and [...]

U.K. Swine flu vaccine: drugs regulator casts doubt on one dose schedule

Two doses of the swine flu vaccine should be used despite British health officials deciding to give one dose in most cases, according to advice from drug regulators.
By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor
Published: 3:29PM BST 23 Oct 2009
Pandemrix, the swine flu vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline, is already being used in Britain with health and social care [...]

MSNBC: Wonder why H1N1 shots are late? Blame eggs

H1N1 slow to reproduce in eggs, a key part of antiquated vaccine process
updated 5:50 p.m. ET, Wed., Oct . 21, 2009
SWIFTWATER, Pa. – The federal government originally promised 120 million doses of swine flu vaccine by now. Only 13 million have come through.
As nervous Americans clamor for the vaccine, production is running several weeks behind [...]

Swine Flu Cases Overestimated?

CBS News Exclusive: Study Of State Results Finds H1N1 Not As Prevalent As Feared
By Sharyl Attkisson
CBS)  If you’ve been diagnosed “probable” or “presumed” 2009 H1N1 or “swine flu” in recent months, you may be surprised to know this: odds are you didn’t have H1N1 flu.
In fact, you probably didn’t have flu at all. That’s according [...]

Texas: Health authorities troubled by number of healthy people dying from H1N1 virus

Pflugerville teen was among about one-third of children who die of swine flu despite no underlying medical conditions, CDC says.
Fourteen-year-old Jacob Moya was busing tables at the Texas Bible Institute in Columbus on July 8 when he felt run down and called his dad in Pflugerville. He resisted his father’s offer to get him, saying [...]