Emergency Rules Cut Red Tape in H1N1 Fight

President Obama Declares State of Emergency; FDA Lifts Limits on Experimental Anti-Viral Drug Peramivir

(CBS)  Health officials battling the H1N1 flu virus this weekend have received two booster shots of their own. President Obama has declared the virus a national emergency, cutting bureaucratic red tape. And the FDA has approved the use of the experimental anti-viral drug Peramivir.

With the outbreak now touching 46 states, the new help comes not a moment too soon, as CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston reports.

With the H1N1 flu virus spreading farther and faster than expected, the emergency declaration from the White House means health care providers can respond to the crisis faster and bypass some federal regulations.

Special Report: H1N1 Virus

"This is a proactive move to basically get rid of the red tape so that hospitals don't have to fight with regulators if the H1N1 epidemic gets bad later on," said Dr. Martin Makary of Johns Hopkins University Hospital.

The emergency declaration allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive federal rules for hospitals, permitting them to set up alternate treatment sites for H1N1 patients such as schools, community centers, or even tents. They can also establish special treatment sites within the hospital, which is Hopkins is doing.

"We've set up a second section of the hospital that is actually sort of a lounge so that patients can go there directly and not have to mix with all the other patients in the emergency room," Makary said. "It's a way to sort of protect them and also protect the other patients."

Meanwhile, in cities like Des Moines, Iowa, the demand for the H1N1 vaccine continues to outstrip supply.

Nationwide, only 11 million doses have been distributed, not the 120 million federal health officials had expected to have by now.

The virus seems to target young people; 100 children have died so far this year.

60 Minutes: H1N1 Most Dangerous to Young People

Originally, the Centers for Disease Control had recommended the vaccine for everyone under 25.

But, because of the shortage, the vaccine is only being given to high-risk groups such as health care workers, pregnant women, children 6 months to 4 years of age, and infant care givers.

The government hopes to have 50 million doses of H1N1 vaccine by mid-November.

The other crucial development: the government has approved the emergency use of the intravenous drug Peramivir, which is still in late-stage clinical trials, but has proven effective in saving the lives of people near death from the H1N1 virus. CBS News first reported on the push to lift FDA restrictions or Peramivir last week.

That report was discussed in Congress - contributing to the eventual policy change.

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

[flires]

Obama's Katrina-

A few years ago we the United States experienced the devastation of Katrina where a few thousand people died. The democrats were all over FEMA and the Bush administration's so called failure for being late a few days in an area where people were told to evacuate.

Today, thousands continue to die because of the inability of the government to approve and distribute the N1H1 vaccine quickly enough, even tough the vaccine has already been developed. Where is the outrage now? Thousands are still dying and a lot more will die before this will be over. The media doesn't seem to care now that Obama is the president. Shouldn't this be Obama's "Katrina" failure?

[danwalter2]

I wouldn't trust anything coming out of Johns Hopkins and here's why: http://adventuresincardiology.com/

[kfor777]

Apparntly SusanStoHelit has been sold a bill of goods by the government that these vaccinations are safe. Even CBS is reporting on the problems being encountered. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/17/earlyshow/health/main5246940.shtml
You know it's probably much worse what they are reporting.

[puzzler125]

One article I read says pandemic, another article says if you have been diagnosed with flu you probably didn't have flu. Another says we can't tell the difference between the two flus then lists H1Nl flu symptoms. Another article says it's not swine flu it's H1N1 flu then the media still calls it swine flu. There's SO much contradictory information that I'm frankly not listening to ANY of it!

[mcapek]

Prime example of government incompetence. Hurry up and get vaccinated! Then, no vaccines are available. And you want these lawyers and politicians to run your healthcare system???

[stn_sage]

This "pandemic" is a sterling example of how government officials will suspend safety, health, and legal rules...at a minute's notice...on rumor, opinion, and bad analysis...to potentially create WORSE problems!

[sjc_1]

If you do not want to get the vaccine then don't, it is your choice. Some will complain one way or the other, either the government is doing too much or too little. Just be thankful that it is available and quit trying to make a ranting point out of it, when there is NONE.

[stn_sage]

I, for one, would like to know how many people have died from this flu variant, and how many from the H1N1 vaccine?!

But...I suspect in all probability...those figures...IF they exist...will NOT be shared with the public!

[SusanStoHelit]

The flu vaccine has been given to millions - zero deaths, zero severe complications. It's the same as the flu vaccine we've used every single year - just a different virus.

How many deaths from the flu - 5000 is a HIGHLY conservative estimate - most countries have simply stopped counting and testing. Over 100 children here in America, just in this year alone. A bunch of pregnant women - and some of those who have survived this flu have required respirators, been in a coma, etc. - just barely survived - when the flu really takes hold in the main season, we may well not have enough respirators for everyone.

How many have died from this flu? An absolute minimum of 5000. How many have died from the vaccine? Zero.

[SusanStoHelit]

The figures, and all data on complications exist, and are publicly available. Zero deaths. Zero serious complications. An occasional minor reaction at the injection site - nothing more. This is, after all, nothing but the same flu vaccination method we've used every year for the flu shot. Nothing different. Same testing, same methods - and the exact same result - a decent vaccine that doesn't have any serious side effects.