Who Will Get H1N1 Vaccines?

(CBS)  A CDC advisory committee made it clear Wednesday who should be at the starting line to receive the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. They include, pregnant women, those in contact with babies, children and young people from age 6 to 24, health care workers and high risk adults, reports CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton.

Combined, that's potentially 159 million Americans who are covered against a virus some are estimating will hit 40 percent of the U.S. population.

"This is a situation of supply and demand, and making sure we can have the vaccine go where it's needed most," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the director of the national center for immunization and respiratory diseases.

There's new evidence pregnant women - whose immune systems are suppressed - have a much higher risk of severe complications and death from H1N1. A study released Wednesday found pregnant women are four times as likely to be hospitalized.

"Six percent of the deaths have been among pregnant women, that's a larger proportion than you'd expect given that only one percent of the population is pregnant at any time," said Dr. Denise Jamieson, with the CDC division of reproductive health.

Each of the pregnant women in the study who died first developed pneumonia, just like 27-year-old Katie Flyte, who was six months pregnant when she got this new flu - forcing doctors to deliver her baby prematurely. While newborn Abbey is thriving, Flyte's heart, lungs and kidneys are failing.

"She's got a long way to go," said Katie's husband Kenny Flyte. "So this is just the beginning."

In the meantime, research centers across country are looking for thousands of healthy volunteers to test the new flu vaccine.

The clinical trials are set to begin mid-August. Adults will be tested first, followed by the elderly. If proven safe, it will then be tested in babies and children.

The vaccine is being fast-tracked - as experts worry about a back-to-school resurgence of both the novel H1N1 - and the seasonal flu.

"We'll see comingling of two different flues this season," said Dr. Kenneth Bromberg. "It'll be like a bad seasonal flu, and we have to worry about high-risk groups."

How to treat sick kids now is also a concern as H1N1 has been sweeping through summer camps. While many children were given the medication Tamiflu to prevent the flu, experts warn it should be prescribed cautiously.

"We're going to induce resistance against Tamiflu," Bromberg warned. "We are going to run out of one of our weapons against the flu."

Experts agree pregnant women should be given antiviral treatment immediately, and not wait for confirmed H1N1 tests. It's most effective if taken within 48 hours of the first flu symptoms.

[goffredo29]

Men should not handle or take Boniva.

[dscott2009]

I haven't had a flu vaccine since I was about 10. Come to think of it...I haven't missed a day of work in 2 years...

I'll skip the vaccine...thanks though.

[IrishWench01]

Interesting that they are so anxious to jeopardize the health and welfare of not just pregnanat women, but their unborn children as well. As if all of the vaccines they shove at our children throughout their developing years aren't dangerous enough.

[rwsmith29456]

I'd expect that the people at the most risk would be first. I don't have a problem with that.

[naj1953]

I won't get any flu shot. Last time I got one I got so sick. Don't take them now and I hven't had the flu for years...

[Liberity1776]

Mosquito's kill more than any beast or virus with the exception of World dictator's and Big Brother.
The Pharmaceuticals made the virus and the profits of a vaccine will pay the Politicians off.
Don't fall for a mandatory vaccine.
You don't know what it contains!

[vuenbelvue]

"Combined, that's potentially 140 million Americans who are covered against a virus some are estimating will hit 40 percent of the U.S. population".

Does that mean 140 million Americans or 140 people living in America that are given the available doses? Someone with responsibilty needs to break it out for us dummies.

[proudmilvet]

Probably among the first to line up for the vaccine will be all the Neocons who oppose any & all Government intervention in Health Care!

[kurlikew]

Government should absolutely stay OUT of health care; their interference, which has been bought and paid for by the pharmaceutical industry, is a large part of the reason why this country is such a mess when it comes to health care. They are disease mongers; there is no health care. The drug companies don't want you to get well; if you did, you wouldn't take their drugs. They will tell you anything to keep you taking their drugs - it's only about profit to them. They don't care about your health, your life, or your well-being. Wake up, America - this is reality, and more government interference is only going to make things worse.

[kurlikew]

Nobody needs this ridiculous vaccine, least of all pregnant women who's fetuses will be harmed by the poison that's in it!

The media has gone out of its way to make this flu seem like a horrible, scary thing, when the truth is the symptoms are actually rather mild and should just run their course like any other flu.

Don't let the greed of the pharmaceutical companies force you into getting this poison. It's your body, and you have every right to choose, regardless of what they would have you believe. Hello, American ... wake up and smell the coffee! >:o\

[tmittelstaed]

I'm still paying for last year's flu. It wasn't the actual flu that was the problem. It was the complications and secondary infections that came along with it. Such as an ear infection that reduced my hearing down at least 50%. I've recovered just about all my hearing but not after having to fork over $600 to an Ear Nose and Throat guy who ultimately ended up telling me that he couldn't prescribe anything and to just let it run it's course!!

[jsilver2th]

In order to prevent the government from getting between you and your doctor the House GOP Plan calls for auctioning off the vacines to the highest bidders.

We can now see from the Micheal Jackson case how terrible it would be for the government to get between you and your doctor and regulate the kind of care you wish to received- who can make a better choice than the Doctor and the patient.

God Bless America-