The H1N1 vaccine will arrive too late to help most Americans

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Specializes in Telemetry, Ortho, Resp, Float Pool.

study: h1n1 vaccine too late to help most

the h1n1 vaccine will arrive too late to help most americans who will be infected during this flu season, according to a study conducted by scholars at purdue university.

the study also estimates that the virus - commonly referred to as the swine flu bug - will infect about 60 percent of the u.s. population, although only about 25 percent of americans will fall ill.

published oct. 15 in eurosurveillance, a scientific journal devoted to epidemiology and the surveillance and control of communicable diseases, the study was conducted by professors sherry towers and zhilan feng of, respectively, purdue's statistics and mathematics departments.

"the model predicts that there will be a significant wave in autumn, with 63% of the population being infected, and that this wave will peak so early that the planned [u.s. centers for disease control and prevention] vaccination campaign will likely not have a large effect on the total number of people ultimately infected by the pandemic h1n1 influenza virus," the authors wrote in their study.

the authors said that this is the week, through oct. 24, during which the greatest number of people would be infected. the vaccination program has barely started in the u.s.

our hospital system just got the h1n1 vaccination in today-ordered 7,000 and received 200! so, only those in the high risk patient care areas are getting them till we see if more are coming in. that means that l&d, maternal/newborn, nicu, peds and then the er on the breakdown list for whoever wants them in each department. i don't know how there will be any left for the er staff with only 200 vaccinations. we are already seeing a huge wave here in our area. our ers have been hit hard. they are not culturing everyone because they would be overwhelmed but everyone they are culturing is coming back positive. i am convinced that my daughter had it last week as it is running through the schools here. our pediatrician's office was inundated with phone calls and visits over the last 2wks.

i'm no expert but it seems to me like most of us will end up building up an immunity the old fashioned way either through repeated exposure at work or by getting the virus long before we have access to the vaccine.....almost seems silly all the heated debates about whether or not the vaccine should be mandated. at least in my area with the flu starting to peak and no vaccine in sight, the debate will almost be a moot point. i'd like to hear what any of you guys are seeing/hearing in your areas.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/20/study-swine-flu-vaccine-too-late-to-help-most/

http://www.eurosurveillance.org/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=19358

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Have been saying as much myself.

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We also just received the vaccines with first doses going to ER, ICU, and L&D staff. However, it takes 14 days for immunity to build, and we are already over-run with cases in our community. So i also think that the vaccine may be a moot point.But just in case it isn't, I took it. LOL

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Specializes in Too many to list.
We also just received the vaccines with first doses going to ER, ICU, and L&D staff. However, it takes 14 days for immunity to build, and we are already over-run with cases in our community. So i also think that the vaccine may be a moot point.But just in case it isn't, I took it. LOL

Might be moot, but since most are not tested and the tests are not reliable anyway, the vax will for most provide the protective antibodies needed. Wish they would hurry up already with getting it out there...

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Yep, I've already got it, or at least I tested positive for flu-a.

I contracted it during the time that the hospital said it was following a guideline alternative to the CDC's and not requiring use of 95's or better. They have since gone back on this, and are requiring and providing (awful) reusable respirators. I swear, the rules change in response to what's available.

And yes, I'm bitter about it.

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Specializes in CVICU.

My hopsital still refuses to say that we should be wearing N95s except for "high risk" proceures like suctioning. Furthermore, they are only giving the H1N1 vaccination to PREGNANT staff... I thought I should be in the same "high risk" group since I have asthma. Heck the pregnant chicks aren't even the ones caring for the H1N1 + patients because we don't assign them those patients. I'm rather annoyed by the whole situation.

There are currently 3 confirmed or suspicious cases on my 12-bed unit. I've cared for an H1N1 + patient 3/3 of my last shifts.

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Specializes in telemetry.
My hopsital still refuses to say that we should be wearing N95s except for "high risk" proceures like suctioning. Furthermore, they are only giving the H1N1 vaccination to PREGNANT staff... I thought I should be in the same "high risk" group since I have asthma. Heck the pregnant chicks aren't even the ones caring for the H1N1 + patients because we don't assign them those patients. I'm rather annoyed by the whole situation.

There are currently 3 confirmed or suspicious cases on my 12-bed unit. I've cared for an H1N1 + patient 3/3 of my last shifts.

I can understand your frusteration. I am frusterated because in my facility (large inner city hospital) They sarted giving out the vaccinations two weeks ago. They started in the ED first. Then they will be moving to ICU/CICU and L&D. (I came in on my day off today to get it.)

What really gets me fired up is that I had to wait 2 extra weeks being a 27 week "PREGNANT CHICK" (I also get viral induced athsma) Caring for known/ruled in Pts on vents with surgical masks. We have sooooo many H1N1 that they have no choice but to give them to me. They are only alowing N95 if the vent circuit is opened. BUT, just last week, my H1N1 Pt became combative and the the circuit came loose. Real nice!

I have a feeling your pregnant co-workers will also be finding themselves providing care to H1N1 pts whether they like it or not. Heck, half of the time you get these Pts up and you find out after you have been exposed that they are being R/O for flu.

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Specializes in Too many to list.
I can understand your frusteration. I am frusterated because in my facility (large inner city hospital) They sarted giving out the vaccinations two weeks ago. They started in the ED first. Then they will be moving to ICU/CICU and L&D. (I came in on my day off today to get it.)

What really gets me fired up is that I had to wait 2 extra weeks being a 27 week "PREGNANT CHICK" (I also get viral induced athsma) Caring for known/ruled in Pts on vents with surgical masks. We have sooooo many H1N1 that they have no choice but to give them to me. They are only alowing N95 if the vent circuit is opened. BUT, just last week, my H1N1 Pt became combative and the the circuit came loose. Real nice!

I have a feeling your pregnant co-workers will also be finding themselves providing care to H1N1 pts whether they like it or not. Heck, half of the time you get these Pts up and you find out after you have been exposed that they are being R/O for flu.

Kristie, please do take care of yourself. You really should not be caring for these patients.

If you do, you need to be wearing an N95, even if you have to buy them yourself. What is the excuse for your facility not providing this for you and going against CDC guidelines? Go on down to Home Depot or Lowe's paint department, and buy them if the facility does not provide them.

I really fear for your safety.

When are your antibodies going to be kicking in?

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I guess my hospital is nicer to me than i thought. They're actually taking the steps of providing adequate N95 masks, and better yet, they EXPECT us to wear them. It's not optional. I do feel for you guys that don't have this kind of backup from management.

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Specializes in telemetry.

My facility is using osha guidlines (I think) and they are NOT going by the CDC. They made it clear that we are to use surgical masks during routine care(we use gowns and gloves protective eye wear), and only N95 if we are suctioning, opening a vent circuit, or coding a H1N1, or anything to do with TB ect. They are also no longer fit testing for N95 either. No love......

I just received my vaccination today. How long does it take? I hear anywhere from 8 days to 2 weeks. Anyways I can only hope that it starts working in time.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
Kristie, please do take care of yourself. You really should not be caring for these patients.

If you do, you need to be wearing an N95, even if you have to buy them yourself. What is the excuse for your facility not providing this for you and going against CDC guidelines? Go on down to Home Depot or Lowe's paint department, and buy them if the facility does not provide them.

I really fear for your safety.

When are your antibodies going to be kicking in?

i agree with this post. walgreens and CVS also have the masks, i found the duck bill type N95 espirators were more comfortable for me being pregnant.

i absolutely would refuse an assignment with an H1N1 patient. my OB even said if it was a problem to have him paged, any time, day or night, because we had a pregnant nurse in this area already get very very ill with H1N1.

they are already out of vaccine in my area, very few nurses at my hospital actually were able to get it... it was first come first serve, and was only the flu mist so pregnant staff was not eligible to get it anyways. my hospital, as usual, was ill prepared. i am 38 weeks and by the time the hospital gets more in i will have already delivered.

when i was working, any patient with any flu like sx, even if it was GI related or conjunctivitis, got the full N95, gown, gloves, goggles and booties from me, as if they were on airborne precautions. i was too scared to do things any other way, regardless of the "surgical mask" recommendation.

your hospital is putting your life and your baby's life in danger... especially since these are vented patients. there is no excuse for that.

please be careful. is there someone else who can swap these patients with you?

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Specializes in Telemetry, Ortho, Resp, Float Pool.

Thanks everyone for the updates. Our hospital system just sent out a power point this week with an H1N1 Flu Preparedness Update. It's very comprehensive with a lot of restrictions and precautions and closely follows CDC guidelines. We have very severely limited visiting hours and only to immediate family members. We have 2 portable trailers set up outside both of our ERs for triage/waiting and then treatment. As float pool we are helping to staff these trailers but it is voluntary and those with small children or who are pregnant are not allowed to work in these areas. It's nice to know that our management "has our backs" and is looking out for our best interests. We also have a pretty abundant supply of PPE.

We carry the duckbill N95 masks and are required yearly to be fitted go through that horrid 'fit testing'. When it was forseen that this was coming there was a huge push in all the nursing departments to make sure that everyone had been fit tested for the year.

Our head of infection control has been on the news several times in recent weeks updating the public on the H1N1 issue. We also have a link on our hospital website with the latest news/updates. We are a city hospital system but are just now starting to see a surge in cases in our ERs so we've had some time to prepare and observe what's been going on.

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