First Swine Flu Vaccine is Nasal Spray Containing Live Flu Virus
MSNBC reports that the first batch (3.4 million doses) of swine flu vaccine arriving in the U.S. is a nasal spray called Flu Mist. Flu Mist contains the live flu virus but it supposed to be a weakened strain of the virus. This batch is supposed to be arriving in early October. The first people supposed to get the vaccine are high risk groups because they are the most at risk. However, the nasal spray is not recommended for many people that fall in those high risk group, including pregnant women and people with chronic respiratory diseases.
The nasal spray is approved for ages 2 to 49. Because it contains live flu virus, it's not recommended for some of the people at most risk from severe swine flu complications. That includes pregnant women, children younger than 2, and people with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases.
Delivery of the spray will kick off the nation's complicated distribution of vaccine to protect against the novel H1N1 virus. Gradually increasing supplies of vaccine from five manufacturers are expected to be distributed at some 90,000 sites, said Dr. Jay Butler, who heads the CDC's H1N1 task force.
This early batch of vaccine won't be helpful to many of those that need it most since it is deemed too risky for them to take. It is not clear when the second batch of vaccine - the shot variety containing dead H1N1 virus - is arriving.
In the beginning, though, supplies are expected to be limited, even for high-risk groups targeted for early inoculation, including pregnant women, children from six months to age 24 and people with certain underlying health conditions.
MSNBC says that eventually there will be 195 million doses available, which is not enough for the entire country. We have a population of over 300 million. MSNBC cites the government as saying they could order more vaccine if there is "more demand." The government is assuming at least 1/3 of the population won't want the shot. They could be correct with that assumption as there is some irrational fear out there in the public about vaccines. Even so, something seems wrong with the government intentionally planning on not having enough vaccine for over 33% of the population.
Unfortunately, it may take a while to get all those 195 million doses here. MSNBC says that 20 million doses will be arriving each week once "vaccine production and delivery is in full swing." It isn't clear when vaccine production will be in "full swing." The WHO warned earlier today that the amount of vaccine being produced will be "substantially less" than forecast. It is hard to see where this leave us.
State health departments are in charge of both ordering vaccine from the government and deciding how to distribute the vaccine, so your local news may be the best source of information about when and where you can get the vaccine.
