CDC: H1N1 Vaccine Behind Schedule

(CBS/ AP)  A CDC official said Wednesday that vaccine for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus should be widely available by mid-November, but admitted distribution is slower than initially planned.

"We are a bit behind," Dr. Anne Schuchat told CBS' "The Early Show".

Calling the production process "unpredictable," Schuchat said, "We wish we had more vaccine."

The CDC was hoping to have shipped 40 million doses by the end of October, the reality of having between 28 and 30 million makes for very difficult choices, reported last week.

The CDC said Tuesday it has a stockpile of close to 13 million vaccine doses, nearly 11 million of which have been ordered by various state governments.

But CBS News correspondent Don Teague reported that some cities across the country - like Dallas - don't have enough vaccine to go around.

CBSNews.com Special Report: H1N1 Virus

Health officials say more than 600,000 people in Dallas County should get vaccinated against H1N1 but only 700 doses have made it to Dallas County's Health Department, Teague reports. Officials are still trying to determine which of the highest risk groups should be vaccinated first.

"This is the time when we have the most flu going on in our community right now, there's a lot of illness right now that could be prevented with the vaccine; unfortunately it's not available yet," said Dallas County Medical Director Dr. John Carlo.

Federal health officials say there isn't actually a shortage of vaccine but it hasn't always made it to the right place at the right time.

Teague reports that in Nampa, Idaho, more than 2,200 doses came in this past weekend and were gone in a day; in southwest Washington State health officials expected 19,000 doses, but are only getting 5,000 this week.

On the other hand, Teague reports, it's more supply than demand in Las Vegas and at one clinic in Miami, they've received significantly more doses than they've given out.

Related information:

CDC: Learn More About H1N1
CDC: What To Do If You Get Sick
Flu.gov: Where To Get Your Flu Shots

[jasperlily]

On tv yeterday they had some federal health personage telling us they have plenty of vaccine - it's just a distribution problem. Then we had other such individuals telling us there is a shortage of the vaccine. They can't even get on the same page when they try to sell us disinformation - pathetic. I note that seniors even with severe medical conditions can't receive swine flu shots. They say that people 65+ have more immunity because of flu remnants in the communities during the 30s. Those people running around in the 30s are now 75+. There are many frail people with severe medical conditions who are only 65+. Just because people are old doesn't mean they're stupid. They can smell propaganda when it's spewn out. If there's a vaccine shortage, just say so. Don't add insult to injury by lying to the people.

[stn_sage]

These type of reports convince me...more and more...that this whole swine flu situation is nothing more than manipulation extraordinaire!

If requests FOR vaccine EXCEED supply...which is what officials are saying...THAN you've got a SHORTAGE! OKAY?!

NOT a 'distribution' problem!

IF there's any problem at all...it's with the U.S. govt, CDC, WHO, and U.N. who have caused and acerbated the problem and who now want the public to believe THEY have handled things correctly...when they have NOT!

IF they were smart, they'd 'button their lips' and be glad they have generated a 'demand' for their vaccine instead of making statements that make them appear to be manipulating a contrived situation!

[NatReader]

I am in Las Vegas and even though the line can get long, the delivery to high risk groups of the H1N1 is going smoothly with more than enough vaccine. Those not in these groups are just kicking back.

1. An interesting thing is that 66% of all deaths are between 25 and 60 years old, yet this group is the lowest on the priority. They are giving to kids who are getting the H1N1 at the highest rate, but their death rate is lower....so what is the best thing? Give it to those that get it the most or give it to those that die the most?

In the last week we have have a 31 year old female and 45 year old female, both healthy, die....yet neither would qualify until the very end with the elderly for the shot.

2. Why wont the CDC tell doctors to loosen the restrictions on age for getting the pneumonia shot? Those that are dying are dying from a secondary bacterial pneumonia but doctors refuse to give healthy younger adults the shot even though there is no risk to getting the shot and it would reduce the mortality rate?

[lovingmomhappykids]

Don't you get it, This is not about saving people. Why do you think the medical officials are refusing to take it even if it means looseing their jobs. My kids Dr. is also their uncle or I would have no clue. The CDC gave a big fat free ride to the Drug companies. NO LIABILITY if this vaccine goes wrong. Do you ever wonder why. Why not get the older people. It seems clear that this is not about saving lives. I have no clue what it is about.

You are 100% right it is not the H1N1 that kills it is the Pnemonia that does. But for some reason they are so bent on getting this mercury and squalien tainted crud into the kids they are not willing to say that there may be a safer way to protect yourself.

[mrs_nuetron]

Man may try but they can not thwart Gods plan for mankind.

[dalemu76]

Yesterday I saw a press release about a new device that can help as an adjunct treatment to standard medical practices against H1N1.

Apparently they removed 96% of the H1N1 from someone's blood in 6 hours...that seems like a big deal.

Has anyone else ever heard of this thing?

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 20 - Aethlon Medical, Inc. announced today that research studies have documented the Aethlon Hemopurifier® is effective in capturing the current pandemic strain of the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus. The Hemopurifier® is the first-in-class medical device able to selectively remove infectious viruses and immunosuppressive proteins from the bloodstream. During invitro studies, the Hemopurifier® removed 68% of H1N1 virus from blood plasma in 30 minutes, 80% of the virus in two hours, and a 96% reduction of H1N1 was observed at six hours. The studies were performed by third party researchers approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to house and conduct research on the current pandemic strains of H1N1 virus.