September 11: H1N1 Coverage

By Kelley Luckstein

Americans Urged To Get Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Early

With increased influenza activity anticipated this fall, U.S. public health officials and other leading poland-npc medical experts today urged Americans to be vigilant and get immunized early for protection against seasonal influenza - a threat to Americans' health each and every year.

"Health care professionals should be among the first in line for both vaccines," said Gregory A. Poland, MD, director, Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic and chair, Adult Immunization Advisory Board, American College of Physicians. "They need to set a good example for their patients by getting vaccinated, which will keep them healthy and at work and, most importantly, will reduce the chances of them passing influenza to vulnerable patients in their care." Dr. Poland also commented on why protecting everyone against seasonal influenza is so important. "We do not know what toll seasonal influenza will take from year to year, but we do know that it will come, many people will get very sick and unfortunately, people will die."

Reuters, 09/10/09

AP Poll: Seniors most interested in swine flu shot

Americans are getting more worried about catching swine flu — but the people who most want that vaccine are the age that will be last in line, says a new Associated Press-GfK poll. As the government races to get swine flu vaccine ready to ship next month, just over half the population — 57 percent — is likely to line up for it, said the poll released Thursday.

"Older people do not have the same risk" with this new flu as they do with regular winter flu, said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic.

If there turns out to be enough swine flu vaccine to go around, seniors will be welcomed to get it, too, he said.

Associated Press by Lauren Neergaard, 09/10/09