H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Proving Hard to Get

For the last couple of months, government health officials have been taunting the need to get the H1N1 swine flu vaccination. Federal government officials have pushed the fact that manufacturers were working on the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. They stated that millions of doses would be available in the fall. We are now heading into October and the H1N1 swine flu virus is proving harder to find than promised.

Many states are receiving far fewer H1N1 swine flu vaccination doses than promised. NECN.com reported, "In Massachusetts, they've gotten 300,000 swine flu doses - that's a quarter of what they had hoped to get this month. And in Rhode Island, they've only gotten 15,000 nasal spray doses; 3,000 injectable doses are expected today or tomorrow." (Stronger warnings issued about H1N1 (swine) flu, 2009)

Vaccination shortages are causing local government officials to cancel vaccination clinics. LJWorld.com reported, "A shortage of swine flu vaccine has forced Kansas University and the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department to cancel five swine flu immunization clinics, leaving just two on the calendar." (Swine flu vaccination shortage forces changes to local clinics, 2009)

H1N1 swine flu vaccination shortages are causing concern among United States citizens. United States citizens often listen to government warnings. This fact explains the mindset of many United States citizens. Government officials touted the importance of receiving the H1N1 swine flu vaccination. Shortages are causing citizens to become concerned the vaccination will not come in time to stem off the H1N1 swine flu virus. Bloomberg.com reported, "The swine flu vaccine shortage is boosting demand from Americans concerned they won't get the product in time to hold off the disease, said Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." (Demand for Swine Flu Vaccine Rises Amid U.S. Shortage (Update2), 2009)

While H1N1 swine flu vaccinations are proving harder to get, recommendations for which citizens should receive the vaccine are also changing. NECN.com reported, "Dr. Paul Hain of the Vanderbilt Medical Center said, "Our senior citizens have seen a strain like this before in the past and that leaves the younger population much more vulnerable because they don't have immunity built up to the particular strain."" (Stronger warnings issued about H1N1 (swine) flu, 2009)

Public concern and the potential for panic is always a concern with wide spread Pandemics. Coupling government touting of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine importance to citizen preparedness and wide spread H1N1 swine flu vaccine shortages is a recipe for potential citizen concern. Citizens' concerns may have the potential to turn into panic. Citizens need to not panic but watch the H1N1 swine flu news for upcoming developments. Education is always an important part to protecting your family.

References
Stronger warnings issued about H1N1 (swine) flu. October 2009. NECN.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2009 from http://www.necn.com/Boston/Health/2009/10/21/Stronger-warnings-issued-about/1256130897.html
Swine flu vaccination shortage forces changes to local clinics. October 2009. LJWorld.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2009 from http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/oct/27/swine-flu-vaccination-shortage-forces-ku-cancel-al/?city_local
Demand for Swine Flu Vaccine Rises Amid U.S. Shortage (Update2). October 2009. Bloomberg.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2009 from http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a4n.OeXdy4os