As The Pig Flies.

CDC press briefing (10/09/2009) 



12:13 Scott Hensley: Here we go. The intros are in effect.



12:14 Scott Hensley: Dr. Schuchat is up first with an update on what's happening with the disease, vaccinations and reservations about them.



12:15 Scott Hensley: 

Schuchat say 76 children have died from H1N1 already this year, and it's only the beginning of October. In past years the number of children to die from flu is a little more than half that for the entire season.



12:16 Scott Hensley: The vast majority of people are vulnerable to H1N1 and vaccination is the best defense.



12:17 Scott Hensley: As of today, all states and DC have placed orders for H1N1 vaccine. About 6.8 million doses are available right now. Almost 4 million doses have been ordered.



12:18 Scott Hensley: Starting next week CDC will provide vaccination data by state, Schuchat says. Doesn't look like we'll get those sorts of numbers today. Widespread availability of vaccine within a few weeks. Right now it's only nasal spray, with shots coming next week.



12:19 Scott Hensley: What about seasonal flu? Schuchat says we may see an increase in seasonal flu virus in the months ahead. That hasn't happened yet, but it's very early in the regular flu season. December would be the more usual time for that to pop up.



12:20 Scott Hensley: Schuchat says there's still time for people to get seasonal flu vaccine and recommends people do it, despite supply crunch now.



12:21 Scott Hensley: Schuchat starts a quick primer on vaccination. Vaccines aren't 100% protective, but they're the best protection we have.



12:21 Scott Hensley: Worried? Schuchat says H1N1 isn't a new vaccine. It's an adaptation of the regular flu vaccine by the usual manufacturers against the swine flu.



12:22 Scott Hensley: Schuchat: "I'm very comfortable" getting H1N1 vaccine. There are a lot of rumors but we're expecting a very good safety track record.



12:23 Scott Hensley: Unfortunately, we do expect more illness, hospitalizations and death as time goes on.



12:24 Scott Hensley: Now Dr. Fauci is taking over with some clinical trial results on testing of seasonal flu and H1N1 given simultaneously. Bottom line: you can get both shots at the same time--one in each arm, the data show.



12:25 Scott Hensley: How many doses do people need? More data support that a single dose is enough for most people.



12:25 Scott Hensley: 

Media Q&A is starting now.



12:26 Scott Hensley: Q: Can you give two nasal vaccines at the same time?



12:26 Scott Hensley: A: Not enough data to say. Right now, CDC isn't recommending that.



12:30 Scott Hensley: 

Q: what's happening with adjuvants, the boosters for vaccines.



12:31 Scott Hensley: Fauci says trials are continuing as part of contingency planning but there are no plans now to use vaccines with adjuvant in them anytime soon.



12:32 Scott Hensley: 

More questions about the children who died. How old were they? What sorts of disease did they have?



12:33 Scott Hensley: Schuchat refers reporters to Web site for age data. Underlying conditions: neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, are quite prominent. She advises to look at recent New England Journal article for some more insight.



12:34 Scott Hensley: 

Questions about health care workers and vaccination.



12:35 Scott Hensley: Schuchat says health-care workers who are sick can return to work 24 hours after their fever subsides (no cheating with fever-reducing medicines).



12:36 Scott Hensley: 

She says health-care workers, generally speaking, can get the FluMist vaccine for H1N1, despite some talk to the contrary.



12:36 Scott Hensley: Is NYC safer than other cities given reports of natural immunity in hard-hit places?



12:37 Scott Hensley: Schuchat says it's way too soon to be certain that being hard hit last year will be much help this time around. She says vaccination is the best way to go.



12:37 [Comment From Guest]
I keep hearing different things on adjuvants in H1N1 vaccine -- can you get an answer? Vaccine being shipped without adjuvants, but are adjuvants available locally to mix in? Rumor?



12:38 Scott Hensley: 

To the guest, I think mixing-in of adjuvants is just a rumor.



12:39 Scott Hensley: 

What about increasing supply with adjuvants, a reporter just asked.



12:39 Scott Hensley: 

Schuchat says she thinks there will be ample supply in the weeks ahead.



12:40 Scott Hensley: As for adjuvant, Schuchat says country decided it would "probably be more acceptable" to go ahead with "unadjuvanted" vaccine and that supply would be sufficient.



12:40 [Comment From Guest]
Is there not a law suit that was just filed by some NY MDs for and injunction to the the FDA to hold vaccine back? Does it not have to do with mixing in adjuvants locally and no data on these particular mixtures?



12:42 Scott Hensley: 

Next question about seasonal flu vaccine supply. Schuchat acknowledges tight supply right now given the high demand and the H1N1 production going on at the same time. With time, there should be plent of vaccine on both counts.



12:45 Scott Hensley: 

Fauci says in the trials of vaccines, nothing out of the ordinary as far as side effects go. Mostly local soreness.



12:46 Scott Hensley: 

Does seasonal flu vaccine make you more or less likely to catch H1N1?



12:46 Scott Hensley: Schuchat says there's no effect, one way or the other, despite some reports to the contrary.



12:47 Scott Hensley: 

Can CDC do anything to make sure doctors' offices get seasonal flu vaccine while big chains seem to have plenty?



12:48 Scott Hensley: Schuchat says CDC has a limited role in the market for seasonal flu vaccine. That's mostly the private sector. "We wish we had more vaccine for everyone who's looking for it."



12:48 Scott Hensley: 

And with that the press conference is over.