Senior Citizens Left Off Government’s Swine-Flu Vaccination Priority List

[Revmitchell]

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to minimize suffering and death from influenza, the Health and Human Services Department says on its Web site......


On July 29, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – a group that advises the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- recommended that novel H1N1 flu vaccine be made available first to the following five groups:

-- Pregnant women
-- Health care workers and emergency medical responders
-- People caring for infants under 6 months of age
-- Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years
-- People aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

Nothing is said about people over the age of 64, with or without underlying medical conditions.


http://cnsnews.com/news/article/51854

 

[Johnv]

Nothing is said about people over the age of 64, with or without underlying medical conditions.

That's not true:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_seniors.htm

People 65 and older are the least likely to contract H1N1a, so they're the least likely to need the vaccine.

 

[Revmitchell]

That's not true:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_seniors.htm

People 65 and older are the least likely to contract H1N1a, so they're the least likely to need the vaccine.

go back and read the article correctly without your vaccination at all costs mentality so you don't embarrass yourself.

 

[Johnv]

Once again, you accuse your brother falsely, not to mention, you're lousy at vein insults. I'm not in the "vaccination at all costs" camp. I'm in the "get it if you want, don't get it if you don't want" camp. You might want to reconsider slinging pithy namecalling before you embarras yourself in pharasaical fashion.

The article says nothing is said about people over the age of 64. I posted a link that negates that claim.

 

[Revmitchell]

Once again, you accuse your brother falsely, not to mention, you're lousy at vein insults. I'm not in the "vaccination at all costs" camp. I'm in the "get it if you want, don't get it if you don't want" camp. You might want to reconsider slinging pithy namecalling before you embarras yourself in pharasaical fashion.

The article says nothing is said about people over the age of 64. I posted a link that negates that claim.

No you took a snip that suited your pupose and failed to read the entire article. Your claim about the article is incorrect. And by the way there was no name calling in my post.Sad I must point that out.

 

[Johnv]

Don't embarrass yourself with more silly rudeness of yours.

 

[sag38]

Did I hear correctly on the news today that a portion of the vaccines that the U.S. purchases will be donated to other countries even if our country doesn't have enough for our own citizens?

 

[Martin]

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to minimize suffering and death from influenza, the Health and Human Services Department says on its Web site......


On July 29, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – a group that advises the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- recommended that novel H1N1 flu vaccine be made available first to the following five groups:

-- Pregnant women
-- Health care workers and emergency medical responders
-- People caring for infants under 6 months of age
-- Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years
-- People aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

Nothing is said about people over the age of 64, with or without underlying medical conditions.

==Since H1N1 seems to target, or cause more problems in, young people (25 and below) they are the priority group for the vaccine. As the CDC points out,

"There has been very little 2009 H1N1 illness in people 65 and older since the 2009 H1N1 virus emerged. This has been true both in the United States and in the Southern Hemisphere during their flu season. Studies of who is most likely to be infected with 2009 H1N1 show that people 65 and older are the least likely to get sick with this virus...Because there has been so little 2009 H1N1 illness in people 65 and older, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that CDC and immunization programs focus on getting the first doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine to those people who are more likely to get infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. This includes all children and young adults 6 months through 24 years old, pregnant women, and adults 25 through 64 years of age who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from flu...Persons 65 and older are a high priority for seasonal vaccine, just as they have been in past years." (CDC)

The CNSNews.com story is misleading and inflammatory. A person quoted in the article stated,

"I cannot remain silent and want to speak out against any discrimination against senior adults. We play a major part in society for our children, our grandchildren and many of us who continue to work and pay into the tax system the same as others."

Of course that is simply not the case. Senior citizens may indeed get the vaccine, but they are not in the high risk category for very clear reasons. If the person who made the above comment would take the time to investigate the issue instead of making accusations that are not based in fact he/she might not make such claims. In fact, if more Americans would take the time to investigate matters themselves, instead of depending upon agenda driven "news" agencies, there would be less confusion on these type issues.

The person quoted above may get the vaccine if he/she wishes. However, they might have to wait a while since he/she is not in a high risk category. Why? Because the virus, for some reason, is not targeting senior citizens. I have to wonder though if the person quoted got his/her seasonal flu shot.

 

[OldRegular]

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to minimize suffering and death from influenza, the Health and Human Services Department says on its Web site......


On July 29, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – a group that advises the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- recommended that novel H1N1 flu vaccine be made available first to the following five groups:

-- Pregnant women
-- Health care workers and emergency medical responders
-- People caring for infants under 6 months of age
-- Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years
-- People aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

Nothing is said about people over the age of 64, with or without underlying medical conditions.


http://cnsnews.com/news/article/51854

This is the Obama's and the democrats' health care program:

OLD FOLKS, DIE QUICKLY

 

[annsni]

I don't think it has anything to do with wanting the elderly to die.

From http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=106773

In a normal flu season, 90% of deaths are in elderly people. Since September, 90% of deaths have been in people under age 65 -- with almost a quarter of the deaths in young people under age 25.

"It is almost completely reversed. Nearly 90% of our fatalities are occurring in people under 65," CDC respiratory disease chief Anne Schuchat, MD, said at a news conference. "This illustrates this H1N1 virus is disproportionally affecting the young."

As might be expected from the death toll, most people hospitalized with severe H1N1 swine flu are young. Surveillance data from 27 states show that more than half of swine flu hospitalizations -- 53% -- are in people under age 25. Only 7% of people hospitalized with swine flu are elderly.

 

[Jim1999]

in CANADA, I am getting my shot, as a senior citizen, on Tuesday next at half three in the afternoon, and it is free!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Ed Edwards]

I'm 66 years old, with a lousy set of lungs.
I am NOT on this list to get Oct or Nov H1N1 inoculation (I'm on the prime list to get the 3-yearly-select-flu inoc.)

I hear that people who lived in the 1930s and 1940s, in large, have immunity to a flu much like H1N1. We elders have had the flu before.

Another 'government conspiracy of evil' squashed under the tires of the FACTS.

 

[Revmitchell]

Nothing is said about people over the age of 64, with or without underlying medical conditions.

 

[Amy.G]

I hear that people who lived in the 1930s and 1940s, in large, have immunity to a flu much like H1N1. We elders have had the flu before.

That's what my Dr. told me, only she said people who were born up to 1950 something. She said I would probably be included in the immune group since I was born in 1959.

 

[Revmitchell]

I don't think it has anything to do with wanting the elderly to die.

From http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=106773

I don't believe the elderly know this. And given their history with the flu their concern is valid even if they do not realize this.

 

[annsni]

Nothing is said about people over the age of 64, with or without underlying medical conditions.

Nearly 90% of our fatalities are occurring in people under 65," CDC respiratory disease chief Anne Schuchat, MD, said at a news conference.

That is most likely why.

 

[annsni]

I don't believe the elderly know this. And given their history with the flu their concern is valid even if they do not realize this.

And as far as I know, there's nothing stopping them from getting the vaccine. It's pretty available around here - moreso than the seasonal flu vaccine.

 

[Revmitchell]

That is most likely why.

It does nothing to alleviate the concerns of the elderly

 

[KenH]

It does nothing to alleviate the concerns of the elderly

What would you like to see done to alleviate the concerns of the elderly? We know we don't want to rely on the government to do so, so what do you suggest?

 

[Revmitchell]

What would you like to see done to alleviate the concerns of the elderly? We know we don't want to rely on the government to do so, so what do you suggest?

I do not want to see anything done. Personally I am not sure of any of the vaccines. Just because one posts a news story does not mean they agree with any or all of it.