(CDC claims) 55 Million Americans Had H1N1 Swine Flu

WebMD ^ | 01/15/2010 | Salynn Boyles

[iowamark]

New CDC Estimates Also Show 61 Million in U.S. Have Been Vaccinated

Jan. 15, 2010 -- The CDC estimates that 55 million Americans became sick with H1N1 swine flu between April and mid-December 2009 and roughly 11,000 people died of the disease.

These numbers represent a middle range in CDC estimates. The actual number of swine flu cases could be as low as 39 million and as high as 80 million cases during this time period, government officials say.

In addition:

* Between 173,000 and 362,000 Americans were hospitalized with H1N1 flu between April and mid-December. * Between 7,880 and 16,460 H1N1-related deaths occurred. * Roughly 1,200 children and teens, 8,600 adults under age 65, and 1,300 adults over 65 died from H1N1.

The figures were reported Friday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The report also included new figures on H1N1 vaccination coverage in the U.S. between October 2009, when the first vaccines became available, and December 2009.

By the end of December, an estimated 61 million people, or roughly 20% of the U.S. population, had been vaccinated.

Slightly less than one in three people in the initial target group received the vaccine. This included pregnant women, people living in households with babies under 6 months of age, children and adults ages 6 months to 24 years, and older adults with certain health conditions.

An estimated 29% of children and teens between the ages of 6 months and 18 years were vaccinated.

There is now plenty of vaccine, and the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) now has no restrictions on who should be vaccinated.

"Now that there is ample supply of vaccine, efforts should continue to improve vaccination coverage among persons in the initial target groups, as well as to offer vaccination to the rest of the U.S. population including those aged 65 and over," the report states.

Influenza activity has declined in the U.S. in recent weeks, but the report notes that cases of H1N1 flu, including life-threatening cases, are still occurring.

Among people who had not yet been vaccinated who responded to a survey conducted between Dec. 27, 2009, and Jan. 2, 2010, 11% said they definitely intended to be vaccinated and 22% said they probably would be vaccinated.

"The epidemiology of H1N1 influenza over the months ahead is unknown, but another rise in incidence, as occurred during the winter of the 1957-1958 pandemic, remains possible," the report notes. "Vaccination remains the best way to prevent influenza infection and influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths."

[Danae]

I want to see the number of people in that 55 Million who actually had Viral tests done to see what they had. And if this number is correct, then they were WAY freakin WRONG in how deadly this disease was supposed to be. They shot themselves in the foot, the HYPE was not even close to necessary.

Freakin fear mongers.

[Wissa]

‘Roids can kill??

I wouldn't have really thought about it, but apparently they can become infected and people die from it. I don't know how many, but it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't more than 11,000 in a country our size.

[MaxMax]

To be honest I never really minded having the flu because of building immunity
during times when I could afford to be sick. My last flu lasted only two days.

[Smokin' Joe]

I agree, it isn't over until it is over. Their stats are pretty questionable, as many places quit recording who had what and testing for H1N1, which I thought darned odd at the time (how do you track a pandemic without finding out who has what).

As for watering down the fatality rate to make the Obamites' program look more effective, I have no doubt.

[GeronL]

I had them only once, briefly. Epson salt and a long long long hot bath. The only bath I’ve had in at least a decade.

[Allegra]

That was my first thought too. I don't know anybody personally that got it. Maybe I need to get out more.

I had it (and it sucked) and I know a couple of other people who had it.

But most people I know didn't have it. :)

[WVKayaker]

I’m not sure how they came up with those numbers, ...

Take your pick:

- pulled out of thin air

- grown with magic beans

- pulled out of hat

-or just as likely,

[Island Girl]

I’m coming at this from the other side. My husband and I got swine flu in June and I was very sick. I slept 10 hours a night all summer.

Just this week, one of my husband’s coworkers died from swine flu. He was only 51. There were no other contraindicators. He got sick, his organs shut down and he died.

I think this was a very scary bug and we dodged a bullet. If it had been the global pandemic we all fear, do you think the Obama Administration could cope???? I sure don’t!!

[politicalmerc]

May I please point out that what I said initially has been borne out by even these (I believe inflated) statistics. The mortality rate of this flu is NO WHERE NEAR .5%. We were all told, some on this board even said, that this was such a dire crisis because of a .5% mortality rate (while it doesn't sound like much) would be a disaster if millions had the disease. As it would, 55,000,000 * .5% = 275,000 dead.

My point all along has been that this is a scare to do NOTHING MORE than funnel federal money to drug companies for a vaccine that is not really needed. If 55,000,000 got the disease this year WITHOUT THE VACCINE and only 11,000 died, then the vaulted mortality rate is only .02%. Welcome to the world of federal swindles.

How many vaccines were sold? MILLIONS and MILLIONS more will be. Influenza is FAR WORSE than H1N1 and we don't have the hype. NEVER TRUST THE GOVERNMENT. They are liars and cheats after your money with scare tactics and statistics.

[ChiMark]

Must be a misprint. 5.5 Million likely. 55 Million with the h1n1 the country would’ve collapsed.

Not possible.

[ApplegateRanch]

I had it back in May.

Same for the wife & I, in early May; and for the couple we caught it from.

They brought it back from a regional convention they attended, and then came for dinner before the symptoms really hit; they thought they were just tired from the trip.

Some of the mildest flu we've ever had; just one day spent mostly in bed with a fever, then a couple of days of that run over feeling.

As an asthmatic, the coughing lingured, until I broke down and used some Prednisone.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I had something for about a week, just curled up and slept through most of it

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[metmom]

"The epidemiology of H1N1 influenza over the months ahead is unknown, but another rise in incidence, as occurred during the winter of the 1957-1958 pandemic, remains possible," the report notes. "Vaccination remains the best way to prevent influenza infection and influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths."

Can't let all those vaccines go to waste. It'd be too much money lost. Can't have any of that, now can we?

[little jeremiah]

Unfortunately this flu is a low reactor and somehow can evade the immune response (I just read, can’t explain scientific stuff) so people can get it twice or more times, that’s also one of the reasons why the vax may not work very well.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping to some really shaky statistics...(I’m not sure how they came up with those numbers, but I have no doubt at least one mucous membrane was involved.)<<<

That was the counting, as done by liberals...LOL