Americans Line Up for H1N1 Vaccine

(CBS)  With 27 states reporting widespread activity of influenza, the long awaited H1N1 vaccine has arrived, though CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton reports, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says administering the new vaccine may not be so easy.

In order to meet demand in the United States for the H1N1 vaccine, the government has ordered 250 million doses in all.

More than 2.2 million doses have been ordered by every state in the country, but who gets those vaccines, and when, is up to individual states.

The nasal spray variety available now is only for healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49. It will most likely be given first to those in a priority group that includes health care workers, children and people who care for children.

To see what's going on with H1N1 across the country as the vaccine rolls out, CBS News checked out three different hot spots.

Correspondent Terrell Brown is at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, one of the first hospitals in New York City to receive the H1N1 vaccine. The hospital ordered 120,000 doses of the vaccine, which comes in the form of a nasal spray, but so far only 500 doses have arrived.

Yesterday, two children were among the first patients to receive the vaccine.

With only a handful of doses available, the fact of the matter is most healthy people are going to have to wait.

In Austin, Texas, Dr. Pat Crocker reports that hundreds have fallen ill while waiting for the vaccine. "The activity has remained high as we have been seeing about 350 to 400 hundred patients daily," says Crocker.

At the Dell Children's Hospital, where Dr. Crocker is Head of Emergency Medicine, they've had to erect a tent outside the hospital to deal with the overflow of patients waiting to receive the vaccine.

"It allows us to see patients a little quicker and a higher volume rather than take them into the emergency department," explains Crocker.

CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports that Oklahoma has been one of the states hardest hit by the virus, with H1N1 doubling the everyday case-loads in hospital emergency rooms and changing the way they do business.

At Oklahoma City's Children's Hospital, three children with H1N1 are critically ill. While two of the children are improving, hospital officials say the third child could go either way.

[Bethannie22]

I am alarmed at some of the attitudes in the comments of these fellow Americans. It scares me to think that some of you could actually be my neighbor. For those of you who are actually providing factual information, thank you it has been a great help.

[ladyang]

for anyone who fear this vacination, please don't get it. I hope you and yours meet a very timely demise!!

[reveal5]

Say goodbye to a lot of fringers who will decline the H1N1 vaccine this season and will die in disproportional numbers as compared to the rest of the population. Say goodbye to a lot of conspiracy minded and paranoic individuals on the fringe. It is natural selection, ala Darwin. The most psychologically "challenged" individuals in American society are being psychologically misled by their masters. These fringe folks will, apparently, turn down the H1N1 vaccine in large numbers and will simply die in greater numbers than the population at large. That's America......Bye y'all fringers......Rest in peace.

[cjkbme9w]

I should add that my wife is 7 months pregnant right now and we have
a 2 year old son. As I am really taking the threat to my pregnant wife
seriously, I have taken my son out of daycare and my wife (a nurse)
has stopped working. I was not going to get the vaccine (for any of us)
until I found out that the squalene would not be in it. The squalene was
my biggest concern. We plan to get it at Walgreens who will have a
thimerosal-free, squalene-free version later in Oct. If I could get the nasal spray version right now I would as I am the only one "out and about" and I don't want to bring this home to my pregnant wife, given that pregnant women in our OB/GYN practice have lost their babies and been in comas from this.

[mollydtt]

I'm glad to hear that so many people believe the bizarre ravings of uneducated people about how "dangerous" this vaccine is. Just don't get vaccinated.
Flu vaccines have been around for a long time, and pretty much the only reason to not get a flu shot is if you are allergic to eggs. And, no, nobody is being forced to be vaccinated. Well, actually, I think those in the military are supposed to be vaccinated, but there is probably a way to decline. Which is why I'm glad to see all this misinformation being posted.
Maybe there will be some vaccine left for me.
Personally, I don't think there is much reason to panic. But, I do think it is prudent to get a flu shot (Both seasonal and H1N1). But the sky will not fall if you don't get one, and the sky will not fall if you do get one. Just don't panic.

[stn_sage]

Wrong! You demonstrate how woefully educated on the subject YOU are!

First, the 'additives' they have reported to be placing in the vaccine DO have serious medical complications.

Second, people are being 'forced' into getting shots. Just ask medical workers ALL over the country! It's get a shot, or lose your job!

Also, many states have passed laws---which at some point---they will allow their law enforcement officials to forcibly inoculate members of the public they stop on the street and/or roadways!

While there is no need to panic, it is wise to be aware of the realities of the situation!

Hopefully, YOU will have no problem whatsoever in getting your shot!
Enjoy!

[talk_down_2_you]

Why does the "news" just suck so much in this country?
You know most people don't die from swine flu but rather the complications, typically pneumonia. But do you ever hear one of these overpaid news jackals ever mention the need to get a pneumonia vaccination that can prevent 15 or 20 types of pneumonia with one shot.

No, they don't report it because it's useful information and just doesn't fit their "scare news" ratings these idiots pursue as their primary stategy since 911.

[reveal5]

Is it possible that the "Tea Party" folks are being fed this conspiracy theory" concerning the H1N1 virus by their "Tea Party" handlers. The "Tea Party" folks are the heart of the fringe and, as a group, represent the most paranoic, simple minded, fearful, psychologically unbalanced, and at risk group in society...

[reveal5]

Apparently, right wing talk radio and fundamentalist/evangelical types are being told the H1N1 vaccine is dangerous and untested. Kathleen Sebelius said the vaccine is safe and effective. Who do the fringers trust, not Kathleen Sebelius. The fringers trust other fringers who are telling them not to get the vaccination...If there is any conspiracy afloat, it is a conspiracy to ensure higher death rates among the fringe than in the general population. The conspiracy is to ensure fringers do not get H1N1 vaccinations and therefore die in larger numbers than the folks who will receive the vaccination. This conspiracy is in progress, it is being reinforced daily, and this conspiracy will surely result in the deaths of paranoid, and psychologically "at risk" fringe folks who are too simple minded to understand the difference between reasonable analysis and psychologically unbalanced conspiracy theories which feed on the paranoia of the fringers. America and Americans who prey on the "at risk" in society will see to it that the fringe dies in larger numbers than the general population due to the H1N1 virus. What a country...The "Tea Party" folks will be less numerous after H1N1 runs its course. Rest in peace...

[reveal5]

Looks like the fringe types, who just don't want to be told to do anything and are chock full of conspiracy theories and paranoia and fear are going to be in less supply after H1N1. The fringe is being pumped full of paranoia by right wing talk radio and fundamentalist religion. These folks are intellecually "challenged" and will swallow any conspiracy theory hook, line and sinker. There will be less of a fringe after H1N1 runs it's course because these folks are, apparently, being scared away from the vaccine. The gullible, and psychologically "challenged" are going to suffer and die in larger numbers than the population at large because are simply fearful and project their paranoic instability onto all national issues. These folks are being taught not to trust the H1N1 vaccine and the results will be observable in that they will simply die at a higher rate than "normal" folks. Bye bye! There will be no joy in this because these "challenged" folks are simply being willfully led, like sheep to the slaughter, to the inevitable conclusion of this brainwashing of "at risk" Americans. It's the American way...there will be a cleansing of the far right wing flock. It is inevitable that the fringe will die in greater numbers than the population at large because of their inherent psychological fear and paranoia and gullibility.

[apuan777]

A few years ago it was SARS, Bird Flu, West Nile Virus, etc. I'm not going to say that this isn't dangerous, but the lack of consistent information leads me to believe it isn't such a powerful threat. I'm not sure why everyone is freaking out. I read and article that seems to question the validity and effectiveness of the vaccine and need for it. http://www.healthyalterego.com/?p=736

[cjkbme9w]

It is absolutely a threat to pregnant women. They have NEVER seen anything this bad in our OB/GYN practice. If you are pregnant or know
a pregnant person please let them know the true risks of this H1N1. It has a high mortality rate and is causing all kinds of complications, such as very serious malformation defects. Getting the H1N1 shot also provides some immunity to your baby. You have to consider that children under 6 months of age cannot get vaccines, so your baby will be a sitting duck if this H1N1 takes off.