Tag Archives: pandemic flu

H1N1 Vaccines To Be Available By Fall

It was announced Monday by US Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Bill Hall, that there will be approximately 45 million doses of the vaccine available by mid-October, which will be enough to immunize the priority groups that include pregnant women, children under age 4 and public health workers.  This total falls about two-thirds short of earlier estimates of vaccine that would be developed by this time.  It is anticipated, however, that approximately 20 millions doses can be produced weekly.

Vaccine testing of children began August 19th in five universities in the United States.  Dr. Karen Kotloff, lead investigator of H1N1 studies at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, stated that children are tested in the same way that standard licensed flu vaccines are tested in adults.  Medical professionals’ children are many of the ones that have enrolled to be tested.  These 600 young persons are divided into three groups: 6 to 35 months; age 3 to 9 years; and age 10 to 17 years old.  One-half of them receive 15 micrograms of antigens, which are the same as the  three strains of seasonal flu vaccine.  The other one-half receive 30 micrograms of antigens to determine if a higher dose is needed.  Because adults over age 50 have more immunity to H1N1, and children have very little immunity to it, experts believe that the amount of vaccine needed may vary according to age.

As fall approaches, with school openings and various sports activities starting, it is imperative that school officials are prepared to stop the spread of the virus by preparing their students to protect themselves as much as possible.  Parents, as well, can teach their younger students to cover their coughs and sneezes, not drink after anyone else, and wash their hands very often.
Everyone should take the seasonal flu shot as soon as it becomes available. Also, be sure to stock up on N95 masks just in case.

Source: ABC News

INTERNATIONAL SWINE FLU CONFERENCE

We recently received an email from New-Fields regarding the first International Swine Flu Summit planned for August 19-20, and a workshop August 21, in Washington, D.C.  This meeting will be very similar to seven successful conferences on Bird Flu and will involve business leaders, educators, and health officials outlining strategies for dealing with the many obstacles that an outbreak of this virus can cause.

This conference will cover every imaginable entity that would be affected.  Fifteen concurrent breakout sessions will be held.  By reading the list of topics below, one can see that this virus has caused concern throughout the world and requires meticulous planning.

  • Breakout 1: Mass Fatality Management Planning
  • Breakout 2: Psychological Issues
  • Breakout 3: Business Continuity Planning
  • Breakout 4: Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Continuity of Government Planning
  • Breakout 5: Emergency Management Services
  • Breakout 6: Law Enforcement Agencies
  • Breakout 7: First Responders: Fire Department
  • Breakout 8: First Responders: Public Works
  • Breakout 9: 911 Call Center Services
  • Breakout 10: Hospital and Emergency Medical Services
  • Breakout 11: Workplace Planning
  • Breakout 12: School/University Pandemic Planning
  • Breakout 13: Airlines, Travel, Airport, Quarantine and Border Health Services
  • Breakout 14: Infectious Medical Waste
  • Breakout 15: Swine Flu: Agriculture Perspective & Interventions

Experts that will deliver messages and conduct the sessions are specialists in the following fields:

  • CEO/VP/COO/R&D Director
  • Chief Epidemiology/Medical Officer/Doctor
  • Commanding Officer/Rescue Services
  • Emergency Management Services Director/Chief
  • Risk Officer/Senior Pandemic Officer
  • Global Sales/Marketing Manager/Food Safety
  • Senior Government Officials
  • Health Minister & Hospital Heads
  • Public Health Director
  • Senior Manager/Director of Business Continuity Planning

More information may be obtained at New-Fields.com/ISFC.  It is our goal to keep everyone updated on pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and recovery issues that may be required in the future.