Pedi H1N1 Deaths increased, Last of Liquid Tamiflu Stockpile Released

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http://ohsonline.com/articles/2009/10/30/pediatric-h1n1-deaths-increase.aspx

When this is gone, pharmacists must resort to compounding the adult Tamiflu to make it suitable for kids until

early next year...

The third wave of the pandemic is expected in January.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today reported that there are now 114 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths from H1N1 influenza since the start of the 2009 flu season. That is 19 more pediatric deaths since CDC's report last week, representing one of the largest single jumps since the tallying began. Two-thirds of the 114 fatalities confirmed also had underlying conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and lung disease, the agency said.

On Oct. 1, the secretary ordered the release of 300,000 courses of liquid Tamiflu for children to be shipped out to states from the strategic national stockpile. Because the demand for the medicine has continued to exceed the supply, the remainder of the stockpile--234,000 additional doses--will be shipped in coming days. Frieden said that when that is sent, the federal stockpile of liquid Tamiflu will be depleted.

"We have ordered additional courses of [pediatric liquid Tamiflu], and we're looking forward to delivery early next year if they stay on schedule," Frieden said. Meanwhile, he added, more chain pharmacies are encouraged to practice compounding the medicine--converting the capsule forms of it into liquid doses. He said the government is open "to all possible considerations for" a generic form of the medicine if it were FDA approved.

(hat tip flutrackers/RoRo)

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The head of our local health dept. was on local news saying flu is peaking this week in our area. I shook my head and said to myself, "you wish, Pal"

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Specializes in Too many to list.

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2009/10/us-114-dead-children-or-300.html

Even though the winter flu season has yet to begin, flu has now killed 114 children and teenagers in the United States since April, said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since the C.D.C. began tracking children's flu deaths five years ago, the highest toll was 88, in the winter of 2007-8; many more children died in the pandemics of 1918, 1957 and 1968, but there are no accurate counts.

Dr. Frieden's figures were for deaths confirmed by laboratories. On Thursday, the C.D.C. estimated that in the swine flu's spring wave there were 2.7 deaths for each confirmed one, so the actual number of children's deaths may be closer to 300.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

It looks as if my unit will be adding our very first death to the list. Preschooler with pre-existing issues. It's very sad.

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Specializes in Too many to list.
It looks as if my unit will be adding our very first death to the list. Preschooler with pre-existing issues. It's very sad.

Very, very sad, janfrn. I am sorry to hear of this.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

When I left work last evening there had been no decisions made, but the prognosis was very grim. In a few hours I'll be back there and will know more. this child initially was thought to be purely cardiac because of the history and NOT to have any respiratory issues. Our management was going to send a pregnant transport nurse out to do the retrieval. Fortunately our medical director put the kibosh on that notion... Kid arrives and deteriorates in front of their eyes, was cannulated within hours, PCR positive by morning and now... I'm sure this will be the first of many.

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Specializes in RN CRRN.

so sad....it just makes me wonder in what way our govt thought it prepared for an epidemic. i know it is hard to forecast, though it is their job-as they knew about this for 6 months, but few n95s, purell is out, aned now---no tamiflu---is it because they thought the vax would be here by now and plentiful?--Should we start hoarding gloves and gowns now?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Our patient has indeed succumbed, shortly after midnight on Nov 1. Now we're admitting an infant with confirmed H1N1 who crumped quite dramatically. It's going to be a very long winter.

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Specializes in Oncology.
Our patient has indeed succumbed, shortly after midnight on Nov 1. Now we're admitting an infant with confirmed H1N1 who crumped quite dramatically. It's going to be a very long winter.

Ick. Sucks.

I'm surprised my unit hasn't been hit harder yet.

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Gosh, this thing still boggles me. We're not seeing ped. deaths with H1N1 here yet. I am guessing yet is the operative word however.

In fact, they aren't evening typeing flu here in MOST cases. Just sending them out the door with Tamiflu. I hope we won't see any sort of rationing develop from this. I know when my two peds had flu a couple years ago we didn't use tamiflu. Now EVERYONE wants some.

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Peds Office, Home Care, Sale.

Heartbreaking and scary. I do not think H1N1 has hit in force here in this part of upstate NY. Vaccine appears to be sporificely available at best. I have seen numerous signs canceling clinics at local pharmacies. And this for the seasonal vaccine, not even H1N1. Seasonal flu vaccine shipment was delayed @ my Peds office necessitating them to cancel at least one flu clinic. H1N1 will possibly be available in the next couple of weeks there, but they have not confirmed. My 11yo is asthmatic on inhaled steroids with a recent exascerbation...so I wait.

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