National Institutes of Health reporting vaccine safe and on its way

October 25, 10:26 AMSalt Lake City Headlines ExaminerMarci Stone

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) chief stated this week that the H1N1 vaccine is "remarkably safe" and that there is nothing scary or unique about it that should keep anyone from getting the vaccine. Actually finding a clinic that has the shot is a little more difficult.  The NIH is reporting that 11,000,000 shipped as of October 21st, but the demand is still greater, and there are enough shots for everyone that wants one, but asked for patience on the part of the public.  It is expected that everyone who wants the vaccine should have it by the end of November. 

President Obama declared a national emergency today as the number of swine flu victims swelled to over 1,000 deaths so far, and 100 of them have been children. Since April, millions of people have been infected with the virus in the US, and over 20,000 have been hospitalized, according to CNN. The swine flu is now widespread in almost every state in the country, to see the CDC map of the states, click here. They are working on getting the vaccine out to everyone as soon as possible.

In a statement written Saturday night, Obama said: “The 2009 H1N1 pandemic continues to evolve. The rates of illness continue to rise rapidly within many communities across the nation, and the potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities, thus, in recognition of the continuing progression of the pandemic, and in further preparation as a nation, we are taking additional steps to facilitate our response."

As of October 1st, 187 schools had closed across the country because a vast number of teachers and/or students had been infected with the swine flu. More are expected to close in the next few months, but the government has urged schools to only close in an extreme emergency. The cost of massive school closures would be in the billions of dollars.

Microsoft and Emory University have developed an H1N1 Swine Flu Response Center and if you begin to feel sick, you can answer a few questions and it will help you decide if you have the flu and what to do next. The questions are about body temperature, how long they are feeling sick, if they have a sore throat, etc.

In Utah, eight people have died from the swine flu and 274 people have been hospitalized as of Saturday morning. 

Sources: CNN , AOL News , Salt Lake Tribune, and NIH

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

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