Nov 3, 2009 6:03 pm US/Pacific
H1N1 Also A Danger To Older Patients
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
-
-
In this photo illustration the H1N1 swine flu vaccination Pandemic is pictured at Charite clinical center on Oct.26, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
A new study finds while H1N1 mostly strikes younger patients, older ones are not immune.
"Once they become infected with H1N1, older patients may be at greater risk of developing severe respiratory disease and even death," said Dr. Lory David Wiviott, an infectious disease expert and associate medical director of the California Pacific Medical Center.
Researchers looked at more than 1,000 people hospitalized with H1N1 in California. About a quarter were aged 50 and over. The older group had the highest mortality - almost 20 percent died.
Around the country, doctors like Wiviott are seeing H1N1 kill older patients like Danna Fortune, a 53-year-old nurse in Indiana. And 51-year-old Gail Stapelton, an English teacher from Phoenix.
Meanwhile, only 32 million doses of H1N1 vaccine are now available. Despite the new concern for older Americans, the CDC does not recommend moving them to the head of the line.
"It doesn't change what our recommendations would be for vaccination," said CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden. "Still overwhelmingly the number of people affected by H1N1influenza are under the age of 65."
Two thirds of hospitalized patients had underlying medical problems, and researchers identified a new risk factor not previously associated with influenza complications: obesity.
Here are the 4 steps to finding a flu vaccine in the Bay Area:
If you want a vaccine, here's your best bet. You need to follow these steps.
1. Check first with your private health care provider.
2. Next try large pharmacy chains and supermarkets. Walgreens and Safeway plan to offer H1N1 vaccines. They don't have them yet. Your best bet: check their websites or call their pharmacy for updates.
3. You can also check with your county public health department. Call them or check their websites at
www.Flu.Gov
4. And if you're a Kaiser patient, there's a flu hotline you can call. That's 1-800-KPFLU11.
For more help finding a vaccination center near you, visit:
http://www.sfcdcp.org/FluVaccinesSites.html
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Obama Addresses Nation Following Health Vote 1 hr 9 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments