In the news today: What's happening with H1N1 flu
2 Comments. Comment Now
Six more people in Michigan, including two children, have died in the past week as a result of the swine flu, or H1N1 virus, the Detroit Free Press reported today.
A total of 28 people in Michigan, ranging in age from 3 months to 72 years old, have died from the virus, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health.
State health officials warned asthma suffers should get vaccinated against the virus because their risk for hospitalization and death due to complications from the flu is higher. Four of the Michigan deaths were asthma sufferers.
Michigan Radio also reported today state health department chief medical executive Greg Holzman said a third of those hospitalized with H1N1 symptoms have had asthma.
A look at hospital preparedness around the state
Both University of Michigan and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital health officials were quoted in a story about hospital preparedness around the state in a Detroit Free Press piece posted today.
The story mentions both hospitals' new visitors policy, which limits the number of visitors who can see a patient at one time and imposes limits on children visiting the hospital. Both are also encouraging patients to avoid visiting the emergency department unless they're really sick and have added extra assistance answering phones.
Washtenaw county H1N1 vaccine clinic planned
A swine flu vaccination clinic for Washtenaw County residents will be held at Pioneer High School on Saturday, Nov. 14, and will offer the vaccine to more priority groups, it was announced today.
The clinic, to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the high school, will be the county's third. Those eligible to receive the vaccine will now include all young people ages 6 months through 24 years old.
The priority groups will also include individuals who are between the ages of 25 and 64 who have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk of having complications from the flu. Examples of those underlying health conditions include chronic lung disease, a weakened immune system, cancer, diabetes, kidney or liver disorders, cardiovascular disease and other conditions.
Priority groups for the vaccine clinic still include pregnant women, caregivers of children younger than 6 months old and health care workers. Those who are 65 and older are not currently in the Centers for Disease Control guidelines to receive priority in getting the vaccine.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Get the Ann Arbor RSS Feed
Interesting that they make such a strong case about the statistics for Asthmatics and the severity of the consequences but yet when I as an Asthma patient inquired about the two previous clinics the health department said I wasn't in the current priority group. Hopefully there will be enough serum on the 14th so that more individuals will be taken care of.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Nov 10
It's a bit more complicated than is being said:
I called my physician's office and talked to the nurse about getting the Swine Flu vaccine. She told me I am not eligible though I am 64 and have emphysema. But - I got my seasonal flu vaccine at that same clinic today (at no charge).
The reasoning I was given: It's more important to get the seasonal flu vaccine for individuals like me because it WILL give some protection (cause milder symptoms) from Swine Flu. Of course, it will protect me (very likely) from the current strain of seasonal flu more completely. I am in basically sound health - the emphysema is not advanced.
I take away this thought: whatever your individual situation, get the seasonal flu vaccination. At the very least, it will help you avoid a lot of misery and of course you won't be passing on that same misery to others. Seasonal flu kills tens of thousands of people every year - don't become one of those casualties.
(Flag this Post)
Posted Nov 10