White House Puts States On Swine Flu Alert

"We Must Avoid Complacency," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Tells Summit

(AP)  Last updated 12:08 p.m. ET

The Obama administration put the states on notice Thursday: Swine flu vaccinations are likely to be ready this fall with the looming threat of the disease's resurgence, so figure out now how to deliver them.

"We want to make sure we are not promoting panic but we are promoting vigilance and preparation," President Barack Obama said in a phone call from Italy to the National Institutes of Health, where his Cabinet officials were leading a swine flu summit with 500 state and local officials.

No final decision has been made on vaccination, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told the meeting.

But studies with experimental doses of the new swine flu vaccine are set to start in early August, to see if they're safe and seem to work. If all goes well, some vaccine could start to roll out in mid-October, she said.

Probably first in line for shots would be school-age children, young adults with risky conditions like asthma, pregnant women and health workers, she added.

"We need your help now to prepare" so those shots actually get to people's arms, Sebelius told state officials.

Only limited amounts of vaccine will be available at first, but she warned that even a modest vaccination campaign "will involve extraordinary efforts throughout this country."

Swine flu may have faded from the headlines but it's still sickening people in the U.S. and especially abroad and is almost certain to worsen when influenza-friendly fall temperatures arrive.

"We must avoid complacency," Sebelius said.

The government estimates that 1 million Americans so far have been infected with the never-before-seen virus known formally by its scientific family name, H1N1.

No longer do many public health experts warn of the new virus' "return" in the fall. Summer's heat and humidity usually chase away influenza, but the swine flu has never left. Children are spreading it in summer camps - 50 outbreaks documented so far - and U.S. deaths have reached 170.

It has spread worldwide, and is causing serious problems in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, where it's currently flu season.

In the U.S., even if the virus doesn't mutate to become more dangerous, greater spread is considered inevitable as students return to crowded classrooms and temperatures drop - and regular winter flu makes its own return.

"This fall, it's daunting, all that will be required," said Paul Jarris, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

At the top of his worry list is finding enough workers for two vaccination campaigns.

The 100 million-plus doses of regular winter flu vaccine are set for the usual October inoculation start. But those shots won't protect against swine flu.

Looking back at school closings that disrupted the spring, communities also are struggling to determine when such a drastic step - one that has the chain reaction of parents missing work - is necessary.

A key theme to Thursday's summit: Consider now how your family would handle a disruption even bigger than what happened last spring when the outbreak began. To spur those discussions, HHS will host a contest - at www.flu.gov - for the best anti-flu video to turn into a national public service announcement.

[tautomer]

On average 36,000 people die of the flu in the US each year. 170 ain't squat. Hussein and his fearmongers should work on reducing the 36000, not the 170 .

If this is an example of the kind of priorities the administration will follow in its Health Care Plan....it's gonna suck!

[tautomer]

So lets see, over a million Americans have had H1N1 and only 170 died from it. That's less than die in an average 35 hr period on our highways. 170 is only slightly more than the Afghan civilians Obama greased in just one missile attack last month.

Less than 2/100s of 1 percent of the people that get H1N1 die. But they want us to say "Save Us, Big Daddy Obama. Without You we are Helpless".

Obama is saving us from all kindsa things flu and foreclosure and carbon dioxide and unmarried gays and bad Talibans. How did we EVER live without Big Daddy Obama to save us!!!!???

[tautomer]

So lets see, over a million Americans have had H1N1 and only 170 died from it. That's less than die in an average 35 hr period on our highways. 170 is only slightly more than the Afghan civilians Obama greased in just one missile attack last month.

Less than 2/100s of 1 percent of the people that get H1N1 die. But they want us to say "Save Us, Big Daddy Obama. Without You we are Helpless".

Obama is saving us from all kindsa things flu and foreclosure and carbon dioxide and unmarried gays and bad Talibans. How did we EVER live without Big Daddy Obama to save us!!!!???

[bajajohn1]

Wouldn't it be something if the swine flu just target Republiturds? Judging by their posts, those who have died and those who will die are not relevant. How pathetic and twisted republicants illogic presents itself to the world-wide web.

[erasmus111]

by creeper00 July 9, 2009 11:58 AM PDT
More fear-mongering from the Fearmonger-In-Chief.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. You're more compliant when you're afraid.


The time to be afraid is when they are keeping it from you.

The time to be afraid is when it hits and you aren't prepared.

[creeper00]

More fear-mongering from the Fearmonger-In-Chief.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. You're more compliant when you're afraid.

[tomadams99]

Hey woeisme1...just curious if you even know where China is located. From the tone of your thread, I suggest you are probably still struggling with your high school curriculum. But...in the good libbie tone of the day...Have a good day.

Forget about the swine flu. When 200,000 americans start dying from chinese drywall, you are going to see a revolution.

[erasmus111]

by socalsage July 9, 2009 6:52 AM PDT
Gee aren't we lucky.... Now Obama will tell us to wash our hands and cover our mouth..



Well somebody has to. If people were washing their hands and covering their mouths, there wouldn't be so many getting colds and flus. Such a simple thing and many just don't do it.

Do you guys ever quit whining?

You're whining now because you are being warned that there could be a problem, yet if no one warned you, you would REALLY be whining.

The fact is that there WILL be more of a problem come fall. Usually a flu doesn't continue through summer. This one is, so you can bet it's going to be a LOT worse come winter.

[NancyLou9]

Obama must need some positive press to support his healthcare plan that is giving him nothing but bad press. This is simply a matter of "here, folks! Watch the left hand so you don't know what the right hand's doing."

[txlakeside]

Maybe when all you sandwich artists, grocery store baggers and gas pump jockies get it and are hospitalized you will think different. 4 more folks just died here in Texas, 5 in the last month and it is not even flu season. Your so called non-event can be another persons death idiot ... hopefully you dumb as dirt racist idiots are more suceptible to it than the intelligent ones who are actually trying to plan for the eventual mutation of this flu! DUMB AS DIRT!

[hologram5]

What a bunch of hogwash. More people die from flu every year than have or will die from swine flu. Mark my words, more people will die from the vaccine than will die from the flu itself.
Total propaganda to scare sheeple into giving up more of their liberties.

[speakinup22]

So JUST how is Barry going to pay for his MEdical plan. He claims he will save 2 trillion in the current medical arena.

HOW much has he saved to date (note - he was the one that said pay as you go) 85 billion. And most of that is highly suspect "promises".

Call your congressman and tell her/him that they WILL go down the toilet with Barry if they pass this and it goes to debt.

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Get this drunken sailor off the street ! (no offense to our REAL servicemen/women intended.)

[HGOODGUY]

HIS NAME IS "MR PRESIDENT" YOU DISRESPECTFUL LUG NUT!!!

[tautomer]

His name is Hussein!!

[HGOODGUY]

SWINE FLU HAS BEEN ON OF THE GREAT NON-EVENTS!!

[HGOODGUY]

SWINE FLU HAS BEEN ON OF THE GREAT NON-EVENTS!!