Swine flu spreading at 'unbelievable' rate: WHO

CASTLEGATES · Aug 31, 2009, 08:05 PM

I got it in Thailand...knocked me for a loop for over a month. It's not too different than the strain 9 1/2 years ago here from what I could tell. That killed quite a few but I also recall 2 strains rolling at that time. I was shocked when I got it 2 months ago (and worried) but held off going to the hospital cause I didn't want to be sequestered and travel visa denied so I rode it out in self isolation for 2 weeks before I went outside again. The airport in Japan has a thermo-sensor you walk past (from the bird flu days) and an alarm goes off if you're febrile and a doctor is waiting in a side office to see you. I'd say 25% wore masks in Asia and over here no one...strange (but they always have worn masks even before bird flu).

nurse2009 · Aug 31, 2009, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Libitina

Why will you be getting the shots when you already have immunity?

Fear of mutation. I and my family came down with it the first week of July and honestly what is going around now I feel has mutated into something worse. I rather be safe. Especially when it comes to the lives of my children.
Im also afraid of my husband. He has been deployed in a submarine under the ocean since spring. They live in there own little world down there. Im afraid for him and his crew that they are all going to get sick when they get home. Ive been bleaching my house down hoping that when he does get home there will be no chance of him getting sick.

Tricia RN

CityKat · Aug 31, 2009, 10:01 PM

Eh, I understand wanting to be safe and careful, but it's easy to go overboard. I watched a video on you tube where the makers aren't even taking the vaccine. That makes me wonder why and it should everyone else. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4SmFxyust0

I think there is a lot of hype about the swine flu. I'm not denying that it's there and real and that people have had it and some have died from it, but I believe the media is at fault for instilling fear in the public eye. Fear will move people.

nerdtonurse? · Sep 01, 2009, 03:14 AM

Originally Posted by CuriousStudent1108

Holy crap.

My thoughts exactly. Except they were a little more...um..R rated.

What do you do to a lightbulb to put it into a socket?

that's exactly what we are.....and i don't mean "twist"

**NRSKarenRN** · Sep 01, 2009, 06:07 AM

Watched the above video, do not believe it to be crediable journalism.

The Novel H1N1 Vaccine (swine flu) vaccine will be seperate from the yearly Flu vaccine that's offered.

from CDC: CDC: H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

Novel H1N1 Vaccine

Every flu season has the potential to cause a lot of illness, doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and deaths. CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe flu season this year. Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent influenza. CDC hopes that people will start to go out and get vaccinated against seasonal influenza as soon as vaccines become available at their doctor’s offices and in their communities (this may be as early as August for some). The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against novel H1N1 influenza. However a novel H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and may be ready for the public in the fall. The novel H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine – it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine.

Groups recommended to receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine include:
Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;

Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;

Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;

All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and

Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,

Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Guidelines for appropriate: Facemask & Respirator Use

CityKat · Sep 01, 2009, 10:57 AM

Maybe. But the bottom line remains the same, there hasn't been enough testing on this vaccine and it's making a lot of people uneasy about getting it; regardless of what the doctors and the CDC are saying about it.

There needs to be more testing on this vaccine, instead of it being thrown together and handed out as a mass vaccine. I refuse to be a guinea pig for something that can possibly cause greater problems versus prevent problems.

*Moogie* · Sep 01, 2009, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by nurse2009

Fear of mutation. I and my family came down with it the first week of July and honestly what is going around now I feel has mutated into something worse. I rather be safe. Especially when it comes to the lives of my children.
Im also afraid of my husband. He has been deployed in a submarine under the ocean since spring. They live in there own little world down there. Im afraid for him and his crew that they are all going to get sick when they get home. Ive been bleaching my house down hoping that when he does get home there will be no chance of him getting sick.

Tricia RN

There was something brief on the NBC Nightly News about the CDC recommending that those who have already had swine flu should still be vaccinated. I didn't catch all of it---might have been something to do with mutations or previous infection not giving sufficient immunity.

What scares me about this is---what's going to happen to patient census in our health care facilities when all this hits? And if it affects young, healthy people---won't that mean many of our young nurses will be vulnerable? And won't we need nurses to replace them when they're sick? With hospitals not hiring---the nurses who are working are going to be overwhelmed. (Ah, but until the CEOs get sick, it's not a crisis, right?)

CASTLEGATES · Sep 01, 2009, 02:13 PM

It's just a nasty flu. It's all over in the US and lookie...there's still a nursing job shortage-plenty of vacant beds, plenty of nurses looking for work. I didn't feel too much different from the one I got 9 1/2 years ago...it's just that with this I grew a flat snout.

carolinapooh · Sep 01, 2009, 02:50 PM

I'll be in the Air Force by the time the vaccine comes out, so I'll have no choice in the matter, but you can bet my DH'll be getting it when it's offered to the general population if I have to jab him myself - LOL.

I agree with the earlier poster - holy crap.

carolinapooh · Sep 01, 2009, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by CityKat

Maybe. But the bottom line remains the same, there hasn't been enough testing on this vaccine and it's making a lot of people uneasy about getting it; regardless of what the doctors and the CDC are saying about it.

There needs to be more testing on this vaccine, instead of it being thrown together and handed out as a mass vaccine. I refuse to be a guinea pig for something that can possibly cause greater problems versus prevent problems.

Don't worry, they've probably already forced every member of the Armed Forces to get it - that's close to a million people if not a bit over...

Sorry for the cynicism; I've gotten the entire round of anthrax vaccines so I'm already a walking guinea pig...and I know in about two months I'll be rolling up my sleeve for it, and to be honest, this time I'm more willing than I was with the anthrax ones (which I got before you could refuse).

But I agree with whoever said the media can really put a spin on this stuff.