We’re not done with swine flu yet… or maybe swine flu isn’t done with us.
As of the beginning of June, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are reporting more than 8,500 probable and confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States; the World Health Organization puts the global number of cases just over twenty thousand. The virus has been confirmed in sixty-six different countries. More than one hundred people have died at the time of writing.
But we may see a swine flu vaccine in the United States as early as October — right around the start of the “normal” flu season.
Over the past few weeks, the CDC shipped swine flu virus samples to vaccine manufacturers so researchers could get to work. Over the summer, drug makers will produce vaccines and submit them to the U.S. government for testing. Vaccines will be reviewed for safety and effectiveness.
It may be that a swine flu vaccine won’t be needed by that point. But if manufacturers come up with a safe, effective swine flu vaccine AND the government and world health authorities decide a vaccination campaign is warranted, the earliest we’ll probably see swine flu shots available is October 2009.
In May, the U.S. government set aside one billion dollars for vaccine testing and stockpiling vaccine ingredients, just in case world health authorities decide that a swine flu vaccine is necessary. Stockpiling ingredients allows vaccines to be produced quickly in order to protect people who are at high risk from the flu — the sick, the elderly, young children — and health care workers.
Keep in mind that swine flu and seasonal influenza are two different diseases. Swine flu symptoms are often milder than “normal” flu symptoms.
Do you get an annual flu shot? Do you think you would get a swine flu vaccine if one were available? Are you worried about possible exposure to the disease?