Saskatchewan health officials say more groups are being added to the priority list for swine flu vaccinations, but individual health regions remain in charge of screening people for the shots.
The new groups, announced Tuesday, include anyone — of any age — with an underlying health condition, and students in grades 7 to 12.
"This will roll out at different rates by regional health authorities depending on the supply of vaccine," announced Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's deputy chief medical health officer.
Saskatchewan said the province had received another 59,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine, raising the total to 320,400.
The province estimates about one-third of the population will have been immunized, once the new batch of vaccine is used.
"The clinics have been operating smoothly and swiftly," Dr. Moira McKinnon, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, added. "This has enabled us to move forward to add risk groups more quickly."
Nov 18, 2009
Officials defend swine flu vaccination plan1111111111111111111
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. public health officials defended the distribution of swine flu vaccines on Tuesday against criticism that their plan to protect Americans was confusing and over-optimistic.
Manufacturers have delivered 48.5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine, Dr. Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told a Senate hearing. HHS had hoped to have as many as 120 million doses by now.
The problem was worsened because the first vaccine to be available was a nasal spray made by AstraZeneca unit MedImmune that is not suitable for some of the most vulnerable groups but which is perfect for most schoolchildren and healthcare workers, officials said.
Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee pressed for an apology and said they felt President Barack Obama's administration had not learned some valuable lessons from the continuing problem.
"I am worried that we are undermining confidence in our public health system," said committee chairman, Connecticut independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman.
He said he feared people who have waited in vain to be vaccinated against H1N1 swine flu will stop trying.
"This hearing is critical to peeling away the layers of misinformation and miscommunication that has hampered the federal government's pandemic influenza strategy," added Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The U.S. government is struggling to vaccinate as many people as possible against the virus, which has infected an estimated 22 million Americans and killed 3,900.
In September HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had assured Congress, "There will be enough vaccines for everyone."
"I think we led expectations of availability to be higher than they have been. I think that led to frustration," Schuchat said.
ADMITTING MISTAKES
"I think you used the word mistake and it is important to acknowledge that here," Lieberman said.
HHS spokeswoman Jenny Backus later said Sebelius's promise was not a mistake.
"The problem has been that lots of people want it all at the same time and that has been a challenge and we understand that people are frustrated," Backus said by email.
"Vaccine came off the production lines slower than what the original predictions were and we made the tough choice to start the vaccination program as soon as vaccine was ready to go even though we knew that supplies would be low
Manufacturers have delivered 48.5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine, Dr. Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told a Senate hearing. HHS had hoped to have as many as 120 million doses by now.
The problem was worsened because the first vaccine to be available was a nasal spray made by AstraZeneca unit MedImmune that is not suitable for some of the most vulnerable groups but which is perfect for most schoolchildren and healthcare workers, officials said.
Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee pressed for an apology and said they felt President Barack Obama's administration had not learned some valuable lessons from the continuing problem.
"I am worried that we are undermining confidence in our public health system," said committee chairman, Connecticut independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman.
He said he feared people who have waited in vain to be vaccinated against H1N1 swine flu will stop trying.
"This hearing is critical to peeling away the layers of misinformation and miscommunication that has hampered the federal government's pandemic influenza strategy," added Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The U.S. government is struggling to vaccinate as many people as possible against the virus, which has infected an estimated 22 million Americans and killed 3,900.
In September HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had assured Congress, "There will be enough vaccines for everyone."
"I think we led expectations of availability to be higher than they have been. I think that led to frustration," Schuchat said.
ADMITTING MISTAKES
"I think you used the word mistake and it is important to acknowledge that here," Lieberman said.
HHS spokeswoman Jenny Backus later said Sebelius's promise was not a mistake.
"The problem has been that lots of people want it all at the same time and that has been a challenge and we understand that people are frustrated," Backus said by email.
"Vaccine came off the production lines slower than what the original predictions were and we made the tough choice to start the vaccination program as soon as vaccine was ready to go even though we knew that supplies would be low
India's swine flu toll rises to 530 !
Click Image to Enlarge 
New Delhi: Four swine flu deaths were reported in India Tuesday, taking the toll due to the Influenza A (H1N1) virus to 530, health department officials said here.
One death each was reported from Karnataka, Goa, Uttarakhand and Gujarat.
With that one death in Karnataka, the toll in the southern state has jumped to 119.
The toll is now five each in Goa and Uttarakhand. In Gujarat, it has now gone up to 45. However, Maharashtra, which recorded the first swine flu death Aug 3, tops the list with the highest number of deaths so far - 214.
Also, 176 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people affected with the contagious virus to 15,726.
"Till date, samples from 80,327 people have been tested for Influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country, and 15,726 of them have been found positive," said a statement issued here.
Delhi reported 62 new cases Tuesday, taking the total number of people affected with the flu in the Indian capital to 3,837.
In Maharashtra, 25 new cases were reported. With this, the total number of people tested positive for the flu in the state has jumped to 3,828.
New cases were also reported from Rajasthan (43), Uttar Pradesh (10), Tamil Nadu (seven) and Karnataka (four).
One death each was reported from Karnataka, Goa, Uttarakhand and Gujarat.
With that one death in Karnataka, the toll in the southern state has jumped to 119.
The toll is now five each in Goa and Uttarakhand. In Gujarat, it has now gone up to 45. However, Maharashtra, which recorded the first swine flu death Aug 3, tops the list with the highest number of deaths so far - 214.
Also, 176 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people affected with the contagious virus to 15,726.
"Till date, samples from 80,327 people have been tested for Influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country, and 15,726 of them have been found positive," said a statement issued here.
Delhi reported 62 new cases Tuesday, taking the total number of people affected with the flu in the Indian capital to 3,837.
In Maharashtra, 25 new cases were reported. With this, the total number of people tested positive for the flu in the state has jumped to 3,828.
New cases were also reported from Rajasthan (43), Uttar Pradesh (10), Tamil Nadu (seven) and Karnataka (four).
Dallas-area pharmacies to get swine flu vaccine013
The swine flu vaccine will be available starting Wednesday at 100 pharmacies in Dallas County, health authorities announced this afternoon.
Also Online
Swine flu guide: Get news coverage, local notices, tips, and resources
The H1N1 vaccine will be available at many area Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Tom Thumb, and Kroger stores. In addition, one independent pharmacy, Dougherty's Pharmacy at Preston and Royal in North Dallas, started selling the vaccines today.
The full list of participating pharmacies was to be posted on the Dallas County Web site.
Each pharmacy has its own procedures for distribution. Some will require an appointment; some will allow walk-up customers.
The cost will range from $10 to $18 depending on the store, pharmacy representatives said.
The shots are intended for those in high-risk categories, specifically:
•Pregnant women
•Caretakers of children under 6 months old
•People 6 months to 24 years old
•People 25 to 64 with underlying health problems such as asthma or diabetes
•Health care and emergency medical workers
The distribution of vaccine announced today represents 16,000 doses received by Dallas County from the state health department.
The county anticipates receiving substantially more doses in the next couple of weeks. Those will also be distributed in part through local pharmacies.
Also Online
Swine flu guide: Get news coverage, local notices, tips, and resources
The H1N1 vaccine will be available at many area Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Tom Thumb, and Kroger stores. In addition, one independent pharmacy, Dougherty's Pharmacy at Preston and Royal in North Dallas, started selling the vaccines today.
The full list of participating pharmacies was to be posted on the Dallas County Web site.
Each pharmacy has its own procedures for distribution. Some will require an appointment; some will allow walk-up customers.
The cost will range from $10 to $18 depending on the store, pharmacy representatives said.
The shots are intended for those in high-risk categories, specifically:
•Pregnant women
•Caretakers of children under 6 months old
•People 6 months to 24 years old
•People 25 to 64 with underlying health problems such as asthma or diabetes
•Health care and emergency medical workers
The distribution of vaccine announced today represents 16,000 doses received by Dallas County from the state health department.
The county anticipates receiving substantially more doses in the next couple of weeks. Those will also be distributed in part through local pharmacies.
Canadian-made swine flu shots approved by US regulator012
WASHINGTON — The US Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it has approved a Canadian-made shot against swine flu.
The vaccine is the fifth approved by the FDA for use in the United States, where a massive campaign to vaccinate tens of millions of Americans against swine flu has come up against a severe shortage of vaccine.
Fewer than half of the 160 million doses that health officials had originally said would be available by the end of October have been delivered.
The shortfall has been blamed in part on the outdated method used to produce vaccine, which relies on growing a seed stock of the virus in chicken eggs.
Like the other four vaccines approved by the FDA for use in the United States, the new vaccine, made by ID Biomedical of Quebec, is manufactured "using the established, licensed egg-based manufacturing process used for producing seasonal flu vaccine," the US food and drug regulator said.
The vaccine will be produced in multi-dose vials and will contain the preservative thimerosal, which contains mercury.
Pregnant women, who are one of five groups at heightened risk of developing severe complications and dying from swine flu, have to have the injectable form of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine because it is made with killed virus.
The other form, a nasal spray, is made with live, greatly weakened virus and is not advised for pregnant women, children under the age of two and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, other groups who have priority for vaccination.
Swine flu vaccine was tested on pregnant women in the United States, but the vaccine that was tested did not contain thimerosal.
The vaccine is the fifth approved by the FDA for use in the United States, where a massive campaign to vaccinate tens of millions of Americans against swine flu has come up against a severe shortage of vaccine.
Fewer than half of the 160 million doses that health officials had originally said would be available by the end of October have been delivered.
The shortfall has been blamed in part on the outdated method used to produce vaccine, which relies on growing a seed stock of the virus in chicken eggs.
Like the other four vaccines approved by the FDA for use in the United States, the new vaccine, made by ID Biomedical of Quebec, is manufactured "using the established, licensed egg-based manufacturing process used for producing seasonal flu vaccine," the US food and drug regulator said.
The vaccine will be produced in multi-dose vials and will contain the preservative thimerosal, which contains mercury.
Pregnant women, who are one of five groups at heightened risk of developing severe complications and dying from swine flu, have to have the injectable form of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine because it is made with killed virus.
The other form, a nasal spray, is made with live, greatly weakened virus and is not advised for pregnant women, children under the age of two and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, other groups who have priority for vaccination.
Swine flu vaccine was tested on pregnant women in the United States, but the vaccine that was tested did not contain thimerosal.
83 more swine flu cases, 2 deaths in Jodhpur1 !
JAIPUR: Eight-three new cases of swine flu have been identified in the state on Tuesday, out of which 52 were from Jaipur, 22 from Jodhpur, four
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from Ajmer, two from Bikaner and one each from Bharatpur, Kota and Udaipur divisions.
The health department also confirmed the death of two patients in Jodhpur, taking the total toll in the state to 26 so far.
Meanwhile, as information on some cases were not received on time by the health department, they were also included on Tuesday's data. Hence the total number of patients on Tuesday was put at 114 and the total number of positive cases in the state at 856, against 742 cases reported till Monday.
Of the 83 new cases reported by the department on Tuesday, 41 are children, including at least 29 students from Jaipur. In the reports received on Tuesday, four persons above the age of 65 were confirmed positive. This was the first time that H1N1 infection has been reported from the age group above 65 years. Also, it is for the first time the department has confirmed infection of H1N1 in the Bharatpur division.
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from Ajmer, two from Bikaner and one each from Bharatpur, Kota and Udaipur divisions.
The health department also confirmed the death of two patients in Jodhpur, taking the total toll in the state to 26 so far.
Meanwhile, as information on some cases were not received on time by the health department, they were also included on Tuesday's data. Hence the total number of patients on Tuesday was put at 114 and the total number of positive cases in the state at 856, against 742 cases reported till Monday.
Of the 83 new cases reported by the department on Tuesday, 41 are children, including at least 29 students from Jaipur. In the reports received on Tuesday, four persons above the age of 65 were confirmed positive. This was the first time that H1N1 infection has been reported from the age group above 65 years. Also, it is for the first time the department has confirmed infection of H1N1 in the Bharatpur division.
Nov 3, 2009
List of govt hospitals authorised to treat swine flu!
In the wake of threat posed by the A (HINI) influenza, the government has authorised a number of hospitals across the country to test and treat cases of swine flu:
Phone: (011) 26594404, 26861698 Professor R C Deka – 9868397464.
National Institute for Communicable Diseases, 22, Sham Nath Marg, New Delhi - 54
Phone: (011) 23971272/060/344/524/449/326.
Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi - 01
Phone: (011) 23741640, 23741649, 23741639, Dr N K Chaturvedi – 9811101704.
Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute University, Enclave, New Delhi- 07
Phone: (011) 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182
Kasturba Gandhi [ Images ] Hospital, Arthur Road, N M Joshi Marg, Jacob Circle, Mumbai [ Images ] - 11
Phone: (022) 23083901, 23092458, 23004512
Sir J J Hospital, J J Marg, Byculla, Mumbai - 08
Phone: (022) 23735555, 23739031, 23760943, 23768400 / 23731144 / 5555 / 23701393 / 1366
Haffkine Institute, Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai - 12
Phone: (022) 24160947, 24160961, 24160962
ID Hospital, 57,Beliaghata, Beliaghata Road, Kolkata [ Images ] - 10
Phone: (033) 23701252
Victoria Hospital, K R Market, Kalasipalayam, Bangalore - 02
Phone: (080) 26703294 Dr. Gangadhar - 94480-49863
SDS Tuberculosis & Rajiv Gandhi [ Images ] Institute of Chest Diseases, Hosur Road, Hombegowda Nagar, Bangalore - 29
Phone: (080) 26631923 Dr. Shivaraj - 99801-48780.
Chennai King Institute of Preventive Medicine (24/7 Service) Guindy, Chennai – 32
Phone: (044) 22501520, 22501521 & 22501522
Communicable Diseases Hospital Thondiarpet, Chennai
Phone: (044) 25912686/87/88, 9444459543
Government General Hospital, Opp Central Railway Station, Chennai – 03
Phone: (044) 25305000, 25305723, 25305721, 25330300
Hospital Nr Le''Meridian, Raja Bahadur Mill, GPO, Pune - 01
Phone: (020) 26058243
National Institute of Virology, 20A Ambedkar Road, Pune - 11
Phone: (020) 26006290
Government Medical College, Gandhi Nagar P O, Kottayam - 08
Phone: (0481) 2597311,2597312
Government Medical College, Vandanam P O, Allapuzha - 05
Phone: (0477) 2282015
Taluk Hospital, Railway Station Road, Alwaye, Ernakulam
Phone: (0484) 2624040 Sathyajit – 09847840051,
Taluk Hospital, Perumbavoor PO, Ernakulam 542
Phone: (0484) 2523138, Vipin - 09447305200
Government General Hospital, near Railway Station, Trichy Road, Coimbatore - 18
Phone: (0422) 2301393, 2301394, 2301395, 2301396
Govt General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda, Hyderabad
Phone: (040) 23814939
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