CDC official warns against H1N1 vaccine complacency

As the H1N1 flu vaccine supply continues to improve, an official for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged parents to be sure that their children under the age of 10 receive a second dose of the vaccine against the deadly disease.

There are now 111 million doses of the vaccine available, according to Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Schuchat also said that less virus is circulating, but that the virus is “not gone at all,” and “it's important not to be complacent.”

In a regular weekly news conference, Schuchat also discussed the results of a recent survey from the CDC for the period between Dec. 6 and Dec. 12. During that time period, Schuchat said, about 46 million people had been vaccinated, and about 40% of those doses went to Children. Since that time, the number has increased.

“At this point, we think about 60 million people have received the vaccine,” Schuchat said. “The information we have to date is very reassuring. This is the time to act, in the days and weeks ahead,” she added. “Just because a lot of people are taking off for the holidays, doesn't mean this flu virus will.”

What do you think? Post a comment on this article and share your opinion with other readers. Submit your comments to Modern Healthcare Online at [email protected]. Please be sure to include your hometown and state, along with your organization and title.