Flu mutates, that is what it does. In the past, viruses of this family changed to forms that were very deadly.
It is both prudent and proper for government to error on the side of caution. Blaylock has no public health responsibilities and is free to call on those who do to ignore the possible danger. Luckily, those in public health are free to ignore him and continue to agressively protect the public.
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Key Flu Indicators
November 6, 2009, 11:00 AM
Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView.* During the week of October 25-31, 2009, a review of the key indictors found that influenza activity remained high in the United States. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:
* Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally decreased very slightly this week over last week after four consecutive weeks of sharp increases. While ILI declined slightly, visits to doctors for influenza-like illness remain at much higher levels than what is expected for this time of the year and parts of the country continue to see sharp increases in activity. It’s possible that nationwide ILI could rise again. ILI continues to be higher than what is seen during the peak of most regular flu seasons.
* Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year. Hospitalization rates continue to be highest is younger populations with the highest hospitalization rate reported in children 0-4 years old.
* The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report continues to increase and has been higher for five week now than what is expected at this time of year. In addition, 18 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week; 15 of these deaths were confirmed 2009 H1N1, and three were influenza A viruses, but were not subtyped. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 129 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths and another 15 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but where the flu virus subtype was not determined.
* Forty-eight states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time; a decline of one state over last week. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. This many reports of widespread activity at this time of year are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
* Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
All I did was put this out there for consideration. I do not consider the government complicit in any scheme. I'm wondering about pharmaceutical companies the same as I wonder about health insurers. I feel we are at the mercy of big business in this country. Witness the bank bailouts.
roslyn, you are right to post this for what it's worth. Flu is a flashpoint right now and the dangers around H1N1 are, I feel (my opinion) exagerrated. However, for a certain demographic--children and young adults--the danger is real. There have been many child deaths from this flu recently. But a lot of parents are not having their kids vaccinated and that, no doubt, adds to the mortality rate. Schoolboy is correct, flu is a very mutable disease and that is how it manages to be a threat every year: one strain or another comes to the fore and a percentage of the populace pays the price. It will be with us forever. As far as the CDC and the feds, it is prudent to continue to keep the danger of flu before the public eye; not just H1N1 but all flu, because it can kill. I do feel, however, that there may be pharmaceutical companies that will look at this flu as a way to make a big profit: $25 per shot adds up pretty fast. It's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't: if you keep the warnings out there, you look like an alarmist; if you don't do enough, you risk the attacks of those who think you're never doing enough and don't care about US citizens. It would be interesting to know how the rest of the world is reacting to this flu strain, as far as government action and/or intervention.
Is the shot actually costing that much? At the MDs office or at a shot clinic? For me, given my not great insurance, if I go to my medical clinic for a hot it is 3-4x more expeensive than looking for the best deal in a sjjot clinic.
My yeearly flu shot was $ 20 at Sam's Cl;ub, $30 at a shot clinic at my church, $24 (I think) at Walgreen's, $30 at county health clin8ic, I didn't even inquire at my medical clinic.
To date, no H1N1 shots (as opposed to nasal spray) have been available in my area. I'm unable to locate a projected cost.
Every time I've been anyplace where the shot was available, the price posted was $24.95 or so. I have no idea what it cost the companies to make it, but you know they want to recoup their research and development costs plus make a profit so I'm thinking they are bumping up the actual cost by anything from 25% to 50%. That is my guess; I am basing that on what they feel they deserve. And we all know how greedy big pharma can be, pandemic or no.
I worked in retail for a while in the ' 60's. The mark-up there and then averaged around 100%. I wouldn't know how that relates to pharmaceuticals, but I wouldn't be shocked to find it about the same.
