An acquaintance of mine just perished from the H1N1

Nurses COVID

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Purposely vague in details to avoid HIPAA infractions. She was young, a mid-level provider, with no prior significant health history. I was very shocked and saddened to hear about this.:crying2:

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Specializes in Home Care.

That is so sad Vicky, I'm sorry to hear that.

When I was doing the H1N1 vaccination campaign at the health department it saddened me that not very many young people were coming in for the vaccine.

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Specializes in Too many to list.

I am very sorry to read about another HCW's death.

Unfortunately, there is a misperception by many that this pandemic is over. It is highly likely that it is not. While most people will experience typical flu s/s, there will be others that are going to be severely ill with no discernible reason as to why they were targeted. We can understand that some conditions would make a person more susceptible, but when a perfectly healthy individual dies, it makes no sense at all.

The other day I listened to a very informal radio interview with Dr. Vicent Racaniello.

The show is a low budget affair, but many interesting people in the flu world have been interviewed over there. http://www.virology.ws/2010/01/14/radio-sandy-springs-interview/

Racaniello did his early training in the lab of Peter Palese, who is a very prominent virologist, frequently quoted with regards to influenza topics. Racaniello not only has his own lab now but he teaches as well, and he is particularly good at explaining difficult virology concepts. One thing that stuck in my mind about his interview was that he said that there is probably some host factor that we are unaware in these cases. How else can we explain why only one person in a family dies but the rest just have regular flu symptoms? We simply can't. We just don't know enough yet, though we are going to learn much from this pandemic. Sadly, we don't even know what we don't know about influenza yet. It continually surprises us, and we will never be able to eradicate these organisms because they occur not just in humans but in many other species as well.

Another statement that he made which very likely is going to be the case is that we are going to lose our main antiviral drug, Tamiflu. That is a very sobering thought, but history teaches us that this is so. Seasonal H1N1 developed resistance to Tamiflu in less than 2 years. Swine flu will do the same. There is no replacement drug available that can be taken po at this time. That is a big problem.

Just yesterday I read that this ER nurse was pregnant and almost died. Unlike your acquaintance, thankfully, she and her baby both survived:

http://www.beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/2328

We need to reinforce that as many of us as possible need to get vaccinated. Without enough herd immunity, the pandemic will continue and some innocent people are going to be severely impacted at great cost to their families. Many deaths can be prevented by a simple injection that has been found to be remarkably safe.

All eyes will be on Australia soon as their children return to school. Will they have another wave? We don't know. Hopefully, if they do, enough of them will have been vaccinated, and their HCW as well to lessen the impact there.

I am tired of reading of these deaths. It's 2010. We have a vaccine. Let's use it.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I'm sorry to read that. It is shocking.

Today, I am dealing with the mother of a nursing student, angry that she can't come to the hospital for clinicals unless she gets the vaccine.

Take care,

llg

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I'm so sorry to hear this Vicky. It is shocking when the pandemic hits home with someone we know.

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Purposely vague in details to avoid HIPAA infractions. She was young, a mid-level provider, with no prior significant health history. I was very shocked and saddened to hear about this.:crying2:

Sorry for your loss.

I just received my vaccination the other day.

Bless us all:heartbeat

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
That is so sad Vicky, I'm sorry to hear that.

When I was doing the H1N1 vaccination campaign at the health department it saddened me that not very many young people were coming in for the vaccine.

I went for my H1N1 vaccine the first time it was offered to those over 64 years of age, by the health department. I was amazed, that of the throngs of people there, winding in a line up a hill toward the clinic in a pouring rain, a much larger proportion of those people were younger: children, infants, pregnant women, teenagers, young men, and a smattering of oldsters.

It could have been the weather, or the statement in the newspaper the prior day, that there was plenty of vaccine available there, that brought out the age groups that came, and they were a sturdy bunch.

I was also impressed by the attention that was paid by the many parking lot volunteers, to the "handicapped" sign on my car. Not only was I directed to a parking space close to the building, but an attendant practically carried me into the clinic, telling everyone there that I (caneless and devoid of outward signs indicating the reason for such attention) was to be first in line.......

Vicky, I am terribly saddened by your loss; and the realization that this virus is much more deadly than others we've experienced before in our lifetimes. I know that "indigogirl" and all those of us following her threads about H1N1, would like to know (with HIPPA's permission), if your acquaintance was female and perinatal, or if he/she suffered a preexisting condition. It really brings home all our talk about this pandemic, when someone we know suffers from it, and especially when it ends their life prematurely. I'm so sorry about your loss.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

So sorry for your loss Vicky...

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