Vaccine Scarier Than Swine Flu: Poll

Calls for 'vigilance,' not 'panic'

(NEWSER) - President Obama called for “rigorous” planning by state and local officials in anticipation of a possible swine flu outbreak this fall, CNN reports. “We want to make sure we aren't promoting panic, but we are promoting vigilance and preparation,” Obama—on a video link from the G8 summit in Italy—told governors and health workers attending a summit on the disease. He urged officials to be ready for a vaccination campaign and highlighted the potential threat to schools. More»

(NEWSER) - Pregnant women and people who care for infants will be first in line for the swine flu vaccine this fall, the Washington Post reports. Infants, children and young adults under 24, chronically ill adults aged 25 to 64, and health care workers are the other top priority groups under guidelines drawn up by experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday. More»

But expect long waits around the country amid high demand

(NEWSER) - Children around the country began receiving the first doses of swine flu vaccine, a day after hospitals and health care facilities began immunizing their workers. But medical facilities in only 14 states have so far received the vaccine—so far all as a nasal spray—and high demand means it could be weeks or even months before supply catches up, reports ABC. More»

Older kids, like adults, get effective H1N1 inoculation from just 1 dose

(NEWSER) - Kids over age 9 can safely join adults in receiving just one shot of swine flu vaccine, the Washington Post reports. A test of 650 subjects showed 76% of children between 10 and 17 had a response to a vaccine produced by Sanofi Pasteur, and it was strong enough that protection from the virus could be assumed. Kids under 10 will still need two doses—only 25% to 36% of them exhibited a strong vaccine response. More»

Some scientist say it's airborne, not spread by touch

(NEWSER) - Everyone from Elmo to President Obama is telling people to wash their hands to avoid getting the swine flu, and Disney could make a killing on “Musical Hand Wash Timers” featuring its stable of characters. But Newsweek talks to scientists skeptical of the approach: Hand-washing might be great for colds, but not so much against the flu because they say it's transmitted by air instead of through touch. More»