Swine flu may infect half the U.S. population this year, hospitalize 1.8 million patients and lead to as many as 90,000 deaths, more than twice the number killed in a typical seasonal flu, White House advisers said.
In a report by the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology, President Barack Obama today was urged to speed vaccine production and name a senior member of the White House staff, preferably the homeland security adviser, to take responsibility for decision-making on the pandemic. Initial doses should be accelerated to mid-September to vaccinate as many as 40 million people, the advisory group said.
Seasonal flu usually kills about 36,000 Americans, said Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swine flu, also called H1N1, causes more severe illness needing hospitalization among younger people than seasonal flu, while leaving people 65 and older relatively unscathed, said Mike Shaw of the CDC.
Data from clinical trials to assess the safety and effectiveness of swine flu vaccines will start to become available in mid-September, health officials reported Aug. 21. Full results from the two-dose trials won’t be available until mid October.
According to what the advisory report describes as a “plausible scenario,” 30 percent to 50 percent of the country’s population will be infected in the fall and winter. As many as 300,000 patients may be treated in hospital intensive care units, filling 50 percent to 100 percent of the available beds, and 30,000 to 90,000 people may die, the report said.
(Source: Bloomberg.com)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
12 Responses
How many deaths will the vaccine cause? I am not afraid of the flu, only of losing my freedom to choose whether or not I want to be vaccinated, or have health care, etc.
We’re all going to die, etc, etc. Hurry up, ram through another spending bill!
Anyone offering a warranty? How about the scientists who are making the recommendation offer to take a pay cut if they are wrong????
Note that an the vaccination program, and an epidemic, are a windfall for the health care industry.
Isnt this what they tried scaring us with a few months ago and it turned out not to be too much about anything?????
To basmelech -you should change your name to Queen-dictator. Who gave you the right to spread falsehoods about vaccines? You don’t want to take it fine, but don’t spread lies. I hope I get the shot, so when I’m in the hospital this winter trying to save all the dying people from this pandemic, I won’t get sick!
Diversion diversion distraction distraction
Ok let’s see what we can shove down the throat of unassuming americans….. Healthcare stimulus package carbon credits etc
To #5, #1’s point was well taken, if anything ur the on causing pandemonium with your statements
“so when I’m in the hospital this winter trying to save all the dying people from this pandemic, I won’t get sick!”
Hey just relax, it sounds like a crazy number but remember that there are close to 50,000 deaths a year just from the regular flu. Its called fear mongering!
Use common sense STAY HEALTHY physically! “Keep your immune system strong and vibrant: Eat lots of Vegies (Kale Collard Greens Mustard Greens, Purple Cabbage…), Whole Grains, Fish,some Meat and Poultry. Drink Cranberry Juice, Filtered Water, A Good Multiple Vitamin Helps, As well as a Supplement Purchased from the Health Food Store with a hetcher to boost the Immune System. Say Tehilim and ask Hashem for a blessing to keep everyone in your family including yourself to stay healthy.
My comment is quite long and verbose. People invloved in the Medical Community please offer Practical things a given population (primarily in a large Metropolitan City) can do to maybe lessen the chances of contracting Swine Flu. How do people Protect and maybe prevent the Flu?
to health:
I am not a dictator. I don’t want this country to be a dictatorship. I said I want the freedom to choose, I didn’t say you shouldn’t be able to choose whether or not you want the flu shot.Go ahead get the shot, maybe it will make you sick.
#1 (“basmelech”) — No one is ever required to get a vaccine, at least by the federal government. Private agencies sometimes demand them. Death rates from vaccines are negligible, meaning they don’t come close to the death rate from the disease — that’s true even of vaccines for diseases that are rarely fatal such chicken pox or measles.
Some private insurers might condition payment on getting a vaccine, but you can choose a different insurer.
and BTW, I tend to think the “Swine flu” panice is a joke, and I wouldn’t spend a dime on the vaccine, at least of my own money (but if someone offers me one for free, I’ll probably accept it).
To #7,
Why is 50,000 preventable deaths ok by you? A lot of these deaths will be yidden. You don’t think the hospitals this year will be full of dying flu patients? Even during the summer a lot of hospitals were overloaded with flu patients. Some hospitals created special areas to handle them. I’m not trying to create panic, just trying to stop the cavalier attitude of most people about health issues esp. vaccines.