The Swine Flu (H1N1) is turning into an ongoing story which can leave many of the public dazed and confused.
I’ve been covering various dangerous influenza occurrences for years and have a bit of perspective which some others may lack.
I hope you find this summary of the current situation is useful.
The Swine Flu is as dangerous as the seasonal flu for everyone who gets the infection.
It is considerably more dangerous for some groups, including almost everyone under the age of 25 to 30.
The most recent news is the negative report from Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. is the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States.
The gist of the data is that there have been no particular or unusual safety issues seen in those who have received the Swine Flu vaccine.
The Swine Flu is most dangerous to individuals under about 30 years of age, pregnant women, and some others, including obese adults and those with existing respiratory conditions or even a current infection.
Although those over about 65 years of age may be less likely to actually get the Swine Flu because they probably have some immunity from a similar virus in their childhood, anyone who gets the Swine Flu is at least at as much risk as they would be from the seasonal flu.
Those who have underlying conditions are most likely to succumb to pneumonia or other respiratory involvement.
Otherwise completely healthy younger individuals appear to be in danger from their own immune systems which can become too active in fighting the infection and actually cause harm.
Some useful resources include:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/ – a site intended to provide various resources mostly for non-scientists and other non medical professionals.
Information about the ongoing monitoring of any adverse reactions to the H1N1 flu vaccine is at
A detailed explanation of the activities is at
Flu vaccine safety and side effects are covered at http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/vsafety/index.html
This site includes links for individuals, those caring for someone with the flu, professionals, school administrators, and others.
Some of my own earlier reports on Swine Flu are:
Nov 3, 2009 … Calling the H1N1 flu vaccine a NEW vaccine is highly misleading and downright dishonest but you have to actually think to get it straight.
I believe these are the most useful of my own reports but you can find all of them by searching Newsblaze.com for “mccormick swine flu” (without the quotes.)
Links to other Newsblaze.com stories on influenza usually appear in a box below any swine flu story and you can search for them using the term “swine flu” or “H1N1.”
Some acronyms you will encounter (taken from the government flu site and other sources)
ACIP-Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
AAAAI-American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
AAN-American Academy of Neurology
AEFI-Adverse Event Following Immunization
BARDA-Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority
CDC-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CISA-Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment
CMS-Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
CPT-Current Procedural Terminology
DMSS-Defense Medical Surveillance System
DoD-Department of Defense
EIS-Epidemic Intelligence Service
FDA-Food and Drug Administration
H1N1 VSRAWG-Vaccine Safety Risk Assessment Working Group
HHS-United States Department of Health and Human Services
HRSA-Health Resources and Services Administration
IHS-Indian Health Service
IIS-Immunization Information Systems
IOM-Institute of Medicine
MCOs-Managed Care Organizations
NIH-National Institutes of Health
NIIP-National Influenza Immunization Program
NVAC-National Vaccine Advisory Committee
NVPO-National Vaccine Program Office
OTIS-Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
PRISM-Post-Licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring
RCA-Rapid Cycle Analysis
RMEs-Reportable Medical Event systems
RTIMS-Real Time Immunization Monitoring System
SEC-Slone Epidemiology Center
SME-Subject Matter Expert
VA-Department of Veterans Affairs
VAERS-Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
VAMPSS-Vaccines and Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System
VSD-Vaccine Safety Datalink
WHO – World Health Organization (a U.N. agency)
He also maintains a HON certified medical information web site, newmedicineonline.com along with several blogs, some of which can be found at the medical site.
Contact John through NewsBlaze.