Record Swine Flu Cases In CA, Just In Time For Free Vaccinations To End

Some contradictory news on the swine flu front today.

ABC 7 reports that LA County is ending its free vaccination program early next week.

With the number of reported cases down nationwide and vaccine supplies up, health officials say it's time to hand the effort over to doctors and community clinics.

How this handover will improve the situation is not entirely clear.


However, The LA Times reports that California had it's highest yet number of swine flu related hospitalizations last week, with nearly 800 people being admitted. In addition, health officials are bracing for a possible second wave in coming months, particularly around the holidays. According to Dr. Gil Chavez, deputy director of the California Department of Public Health's Center for Infectious Diseases,

Pandemics are very unpredictable. . . . We cannot turn our back and be complacent.

Chavez goes on to urge the public to continue seeking inoculations.

And Finally, from L.A Now::

Millions of protective masks and gloves will be distributed to schools throughout California to prevent the spread of swine and seasonal flu, state and county officials announced today...Purchased with federal grants, the 23 million masks and gloves will be used by ill students as well as the nurses who examine them."

For more coverage of swine flu in LA County, check out Neon Tommy's ongoing coverage.

Comments

[LastAngryWoman]

11:02 AM on 12/05/2009

No one I know says the Canadian system is perfect. We all are aware of the warts...and there are several.

On the other hand, there are several members of my family with serious health issues. No one has had to sell their home. No one has had to travel to the States for healthcare. And this can be said of millions of us.

We received our H1N1 shots over a month ago. At no cost.

Sarah Palin is truly nuts if she thinks Canadians would ever give up universal health care, warts and all, for the 'American Way'.

[KIVPossum]

06:51 AM on 12/07/2009

There you go again, letting facts get in the way of politics.

[laylahb]

09:03 PM on 12/04/2009

I called LA County Health yesterday, and they confirmed that the vaccination programme would end in the next few days. The vaccines are still available only to people in the high priority category. Asked when vaccines would be available to the general population, they replied "end of December, or January."

For all those who denigrate Canada's health care system, provinces began to vaccinate "All" about three weeks ago, and they are vaccinating at a wide variety of locations. Naturally, there's no fee..