H1N1: vaccination progress in U.S. and abroad

The distribution of vaccines, which started more slowly than expected, is well below forecasts of the federal government, which has the effect of creating a large frustration in the population.

United States: a big frustration

The influenza A (H1N1) is widespread in 48 states. Center Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta has revised upward the number of victims of this new form of flu with 4,000 deaths instead of 1,200.

41 million doses were available by November 10, three times less than what had been forecast in the spring. Only 33 million were sent to the States because of the red tape. The vaccine is not distributed accordingly to the evolution of the epidemic, but to the number of inhabitants.

Some less populous states but also affected are disadvantaged. In some states, we see long queues to get vaccinated. But frustration does not necessarily mean that a majority of Americans want to be vaccinated.

A survey by the Harvard School of Public Health indicates that only 17% of adults have tried so far to be vaccinated in the United States. Among them, 70% have failed. 41% of parents have tried to vaccinate their children, 66% in vain. According to a survey by Purdue University, 62% of Americans do not intend to be vaccinated in part because the vaccine will come too late, but also because they are not sure of its safety.

China: an early campaign

To prevent early epidemic, China has launched its vaccination campaign in late September. Voluntary and free, the vaccine was injected to eleven million people so far. More than 41 million doses have been distributed to hospitals across the country to start the campaign and around 100 million doses should be produced in the first quarter of 2010, according to calculations by authorities.

Beijing has recorded over 63,000 cases of influenza A and 36 people died of the virus since early October. The Chinese government plans to vaccinate nearly 380 million people. The vaccination campaign started rumors on the Internet. At that point the Ministry of Health had to publish a disclaimer, stating that some cases reported among students in early October had nothing to do with the vaccine.

United Kingdom: GPs to maneuver

The national campaign of vaccination against influenza A began two weeks ago in the United Kingdom, and millions of doses have finally arrived in the offices of general practitioners (GP).

The groups considered most at risk are men and women aged 6 months to 65 years, suffering from chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, heart problems or kidney problems and diabetes. The British government has already received enough to vaccinate 14 million people, with doses of Pandemrix.

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