H1N1 Flu Vaccine Recall Hits Detroit, Michigan

The H1N1 flu virus that has been running rampant, seemingly without check now has a new wrinkle added to the mix. It has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that hundreds of thousands of doses of H1N1 flu vaccine are being recalled due to the vaccine not being strong enough to protect patients from the virus.

The recall involves about 800,000 doses made by Sanofi Pasteur. Michigan physicians were notified of the recall in December, 2009. Michigan health officials said this would affect 38 counties and the city of Detroit, which had received 17,000 doses of the impotent flu vaccine.

Unfortunately this kind of problem is seen when there is a wide spread media coverage of any disease. It gets out of control and strikes fear in the heart of the people who then demand immediate attention. This snowballs into putting pressure on the providers of care and production of medication is forthcoming with limited time for testing to be able to meet the demand. Mistakes can be made.

This vaccine was produced and delivered in record time. How effective could the testing have been? How could they have known of its strength and virulence without a significant number of cases of the flu virus to test it against? Which in the beginning was limited.

But there is no real danger to people. If you were vaccinated with the weak vaccine, there is no harm done except the needle poke in your skin. However, you are not vaccinated against the flu H1N1 virus. And when the new vaccine is delivered, with the appropriate strength after further testing is done, which is how it was discovered that the vaccine was too weak, you will simply be vaccinated again and then you will be protected.

It has just been extremely frustrating for physicians and hospitals with the influx of patients that are fearful and now frustrated. Emergency Room employees at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy Michigan report they have set up a flu clinic on site and are prepared to handle questions as well as the care of any flu patients without exposing all patients to the virus.