Published: Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Swine flu vaccine gets federal OK
Snohomish County could receive its first doses in early October, sooner than health officials expected.
The first doses of swine flu vaccine could arrive in Snohomish County earlier than previously predicted, perhaps as soon as the beginning of next month.
On Tuesday, the federal Food and Drug Administration gave final approval to the vaccine, clearing the way for manufacturers to begin shipping it.
The Snohomish Health District still doesn’t have a date for the vaccine’s arrival. Based on recent comments from federal officials, the first shipments could arrive in early October, said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Snohomish Health District health officer.
Local health officials have been told to expect initial shipments of between 40,000 and 80,000 doses of swine flu vaccine. Ultimately, the county could get as many as 180,000 doses.
Just how many children and adults could get the vaccine depends on whether federal health officials determine if one dose or two is needed to provide protection against the virus.
Health officials, clinics, hospitals and pharmacies began planning this summer for how to get the vaccine out quickly to the public once it arrives.
Locations of where shots will be available will be announced as soon as the health district learns when and how much vaccine is arriving, Goldbaum said.
Health care and emergency service workers will be first in line to get the shot. Next, in order, are pregnant women, people who have contact with children under 6 months of age, children and adults between 6 months and 24 years old, and people 25 to 64 years old with chronic health conditions.
The order is intended to focus first on groups hardest hit by the virus this spring, causing hospitalizations and deaths.
Nationally, more than 9,000 people have been hospitalized and nearly 600 people have died from the virus, including two men in Snohomish County.
With all the attention to swine flu shots, physicians and health officials worry that the public won’t get seasonal flu shots, which are available at some pharmacies now, and scheduled to be widely available next month.
Two types of shots — one for swine flu and one for seasonal flu — have been developed because both flu types are expected to circulate this fall.
Health officials recommend seasonal flu shots for children aged 6 months to 18 years, pregnant women, adults 50 and older, people with chronic medical conditions, nursing home patients, people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, and health care and emergency services employees.
Basic steps taken by children and adults will play a major role in how fast swine flu spreads, especially since the virus may arrive before the shots are widely available.
Carefully washing your hands, covering your cough and staying home from school or work when ill “represent the single most important strategy” for fighting swine flu, Goldbaum said.
It’s especially important for children to follow these steps because they’re in close quarters while in school and because swine flu is hitting children and young adults the hardest, said Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, a physician at The Everett Clinic who is part of a countywide influenza planning team.
Since germs can linger on surfaces for several hours, the virus can easily spread if someone else touches them and then touches their face or nose, he said.
“It’s hard to keep your hands away from your face,” Tu said. “We do it subconsciously all the time.”
The spread of the virus at Washington State University earlier this month, which sickened several thousand students, shows just how quickly swine flu can spread, Tu said.
And area clinics already are beginning to see a rise in flu-like illnesses.
“It’s going to be real, real interesting to see what happens in the next several weeks,” he said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.
On Tuesday, the federal Food and Drug Administration gave final approval to the vaccine, clearing the way for manufacturers to begin shipping it.
The Snohomish Health District still doesn’t have a date for the vaccine’s arrival. Based on recent comments from federal officials, the first shipments could arrive in early October, said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Snohomish Health District health officer.
Local health officials have been told to expect initial shipments of between 40,000 and 80,000 doses of swine flu vaccine. Ultimately, the county could get as many as 180,000 doses.
Just how many children and adults could get the vaccine depends on whether federal health officials determine if one dose or two is needed to provide protection against the virus.
Health officials, clinics, hospitals and pharmacies began planning this summer for how to get the vaccine out quickly to the public once it arrives.
Locations of where shots will be available will be announced as soon as the health district learns when and how much vaccine is arriving, Goldbaum said.
Health care and emergency service workers will be first in line to get the shot. Next, in order, are pregnant women, people who have contact with children under 6 months of age, children and adults between 6 months and 24 years old, and people 25 to 64 years old with chronic health conditions.
The order is intended to focus first on groups hardest hit by the virus this spring, causing hospitalizations and deaths.
Nationally, more than 9,000 people have been hospitalized and nearly 600 people have died from the virus, including two men in Snohomish County.
With all the attention to swine flu shots, physicians and health officials worry that the public won’t get seasonal flu shots, which are available at some pharmacies now, and scheduled to be widely available next month.
Two types of shots — one for swine flu and one for seasonal flu — have been developed because both flu types are expected to circulate this fall.
Health officials recommend seasonal flu shots for children aged 6 months to 18 years, pregnant women, adults 50 and older, people with chronic medical conditions, nursing home patients, people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, and health care and emergency services employees.
Basic steps taken by children and adults will play a major role in how fast swine flu spreads, especially since the virus may arrive before the shots are widely available.
Carefully washing your hands, covering your cough and staying home from school or work when ill “represent the single most important strategy” for fighting swine flu, Goldbaum said.
It’s especially important for children to follow these steps because they’re in close quarters while in school and because swine flu is hitting children and young adults the hardest, said Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, a physician at The Everett Clinic who is part of a countywide influenza planning team.
Since germs can linger on surfaces for several hours, the virus can easily spread if someone else touches them and then touches their face or nose, he said.
“It’s hard to keep your hands away from your face,” Tu said. “We do it subconsciously all the time.”
The spread of the virus at Washington State University earlier this month, which sickened several thousand students, shows just how quickly swine flu can spread, Tu said.
And area clinics already are beginning to see a rise in flu-like illnesses.
“It’s going to be real, real interesting to see what happens in the next several weeks,” he said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.
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