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CDC To Monitor Children's Flu Complications: Drug-Resistant Staph A New Wrinkle
SFgate ^ | 12-8-2003 | Daniel Yee

Posted on 12/08/2003 6:49:21 PM PST by blam

Edited on 04/13/2004 2:45:07 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

The nation's health agency plans to closely watch flu complications among children, who have swamped hospitals in some states and surprised doctors with the severity of their illnesses.

A new concern is the rise of a common drug-resistant staph infection that is complicating efforts to treat children with the flu, an official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.


(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bacteria; cdc; childrens; collins; flu; fukuda; hayden; healthcare; influenza; monitor; mrsa; outbreak; poland; schaffner; schexnayder; siegel; staph; todd; vaccine; virus; wrinkle
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To: torstars
" One thing I didn't know was that for children under 9, a second shot is recommended a month later"

Because of the severity of flu among children this year I had our sons immunized for the first time. I asked about the second shot for our 8 year old, and our doctor's office said he doesn't need it. Since he got his first shot the day after Thanksgiving, I suspect the vaccine supply will have run out by the time he'd be due for the second shot, so the point may be moot.

61 posted on 12/09/2003 3:23:00 PM PST by Think free or die
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To: Think free or die
I suspect the vaccine supply will have run out by the time he'd be due for the second shot, so the point may be moot.

I agree that a second shot may be moot, but media reports on a few of the deaths in immunized children did not indicate that the children had already had two flu shots.

62 posted on 12/09/2003 4:19:52 PM PST by torstars
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To: blam; CathyRyan; Mother Abigail; Dog Gone; Petronski; per loin; riri; flutters; Judith Anne; ...
Ping.
63 posted on 12/09/2003 4:29:43 PM PST by aristeides
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To: Think free or die
Flu Vaccines Dwindling In Mobile Area

"The Baldwin County Health Department is already out of flu vaccines, and Mobile only has a few hundred left, meaning that in just a few days anyone who wants an immunization will have to find a private -- and more expensive -- alternative, health officials said Monday. "

64 posted on 12/09/2003 5:07:50 PM PST by blam
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To: blam
Healthy children, under nine years old, require two shots four weeks apart. Less healthy children have a 3rd shot 4-6 weeks later.
65 posted on 12/09/2003 5:36:42 PM PST by TaxRelief
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To: Think free or die
I've spoken to CDC, my doctor and NCDOH about this second shot thing for our youngest. The concensus is: Do our best to find a second shot when the time comes, but worse case scenario, if he's over 5, he can have the live vaccine inhalant which is plentiful.
66 posted on 12/09/2003 5:41:01 PM PST by TaxRelief
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To: TaxRelief
he can have the live vaccine inhalant which is plentiful

It is plentiful today, but supplies can change quickly. In Pittsburgh it seems that most sources are out, even though the flu hasn't really hit hard yet. The only source is the Allegheny Dept of Health. Some said they had supplies through the end of the year, but the supplies seemed to be several thousand doses. However, yesterday they set a record of 761 doses dispensed, which was probably broken today. Tomorrow they are moving to a larger facility and all three networks carried the story today. I suspect that the supplies that were good till the end of the year will be gone by the end of the week. Most in line were young children, so many will be coming back in a month. I suspect this will be repeated throughout the country, especially in the east, where the flu is just taking hold. Thus, the "plentiful" flu-mist may not be plentiful for very long.

67 posted on 12/09/2003 6:15:28 PM PST by torstars
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To: torstars
BTTT. (That means Back To The Top). :-)
68 posted on 12/09/2003 7:59:32 PM PST by Prince Charles
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To: TaxRelief
I'll be checking around in late December for that second dose. Fortunately, he's 8 and sturdy, rather than a frail little dude. Still, it worries me.
69 posted on 12/09/2003 8:00:20 PM PST by Think free or die
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To: Think free or die
Still, it worries me.

Judging from the response in Pittsburgh, you are not alone. The record 761 shots administered on Monday was shattered by the 1030 shots given yesterday.

Today the clinic hours are extended by 6 hours and they are moving to a large facility, so it seems likely that 2000 doses will be given out today.

Set aside reserves were located, so the remaining shots grew to 4335, but its pretty easy to do the math and see that the supplies will not last until the end of the month, but will almost certainly be gone by early next week, even though additional clinics are being set up in suburban locations.

The article mentions a second shot for younger patients and also mentions flu-mist for healthy people 5-49, so I expect the flu-mist stocks to be heavily impacted in the next week.

I have a daughter teaching in Northern California with many 3rd grade students out with headaches. She is opting for flu-mist because most locations are out and expecting another shipment, which I suspect will be reserved for high risk or those requiring a second shot.

However, I don't think there are any guarantees that the expected shipments will arrive.

70 posted on 12/09/2003 11:51:33 PM PST by torstars
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To: TaxRelief
he can have the live vaccine inhalant which is plentiful

I did a google news search on flumist and got about 1000 hits, with 250 of the hits in the past 24 hours. Its pretty easy to see that the 4 million remaining flumist doses will not last long.

71 posted on 12/10/2003 12:06:48 AM PST by torstars
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To: torstars
The smaller hospitals in my area,S.Okla.,have been running out of tests for the flu.

Now,I understand the larger hospitals in the area are having the same problem.

For a bit of good news,a 2 year old with asthma and flu complications,along with a 4 month old with asthma,flu and pneumonia are doing much better.:)

72 posted on 12/10/2003 12:10:12 AM PST by Free Trapper (One with courage is often a majority)
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To: Think free or die
Could a childs second dose be acquired now and held till the time for use?

Just a thought.

73 posted on 12/10/2003 12:18:59 AM PST by Free Trapper (One with courage is often a majority)
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To: blam
gee, maybe instead of paying for all the seniors to get their free viagra, we should be looking to take care of the children, for a change....../rant off/
74 posted on 12/10/2003 12:24:53 AM PST by cherry
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To: cherry
Actually, immunization of children helps senior citizens, many of whom catch the flu from children. A study showed that a halt to childhood immunizations had a very negative effect on flu cases in seniors.
75 posted on 12/10/2003 12:32:02 AM PST by torstars
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To: Free Trapper
The children get pediatric doses, which will be unaffected by a run on the adult version. However, I think that most of the cost is related to administering the shot, so I doubt that vials would be sold for future use.
76 posted on 12/10/2003 12:34:35 AM PST by torstars
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To: torstars
Most children, even with underlying conditions will do well. However, the number of reported deaths continue to rise and many seem to be children who are healthy one day and dead a few days later. I just saw a report on a 7 year old in Bakersfield, CA. Parents thought he had a cold on Friday. He was sicker Saturday and Sunday,
and dead on Monday.

These stories will fuel a run on the remaining vaccines, especially the children's version.

http://www.nbc11.com/health/2694948/detail.html

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7456508.htm
77 posted on 12/10/2003 12:40:20 AM PST by torstars
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To: Free Trapper
The reports of children's deaths are starting to accumulate. Colorado now has 10 confirmed and the list of 17 nationwide in this article

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_2491573,00.html

does not include California. My guess is flumist will be pretty hard to find by the end of next week.
78 posted on 12/10/2003 12:50:26 AM PST by torstars
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To: torstars
I had about 48 hours of audio hallucinations on and off with the bug I have.The third,"bad" day,I was even having visual hallucinations.

I had a slight fever if any and have never used illicit drugs.Another FReeper had hallucinations back in the 50s,I believe with flu.

Have you heard of this before without a bad fever?

79 posted on 12/10/2003 12:58:19 AM PST by Free Trapper (One with courage is often a majority)
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To: Think free or die
FluMist discussed in tomorrow's USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-12-09-medimmune_x.htm

Supplies won't last long
80 posted on 12/10/2003 12:59:19 AM PST by torstars
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