The spreading of the H1N1 virus like wild fire, has triggered President Obama to declare it as a national emergency.
But with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stating that 46 states have been infected with the swine flu, it seems as though Obama’s announcement on Oct. 24 is a little late.
So far, according to the CDC, the U.S. has seen a rapid growth of the virus since it first started spreading in April 2009. Millions have been infected, close to 20,000 have been hospitalized and more than 1,000 have died.
Looking at the CDC’s numbers on the pandemic, it’s easy to say that the nation rejoiced when a vaccine was created, only problem is that the demand for it is about as bad as the Nintendo Wii when it first came out in 2006.
The CDC stated that pregnant women, people who care for children younger than 6 months and children 6 months and older are first to receive the vaccine.
Consumer demands for the vaccine aren’t being met because the production for the medicine is a slow and tedious process and people are starting to get frustrated.
Our stance on the situation is for the public to remain strong and be patient.
According to the U.S. Census Web site, there are over 300 million people in the U.S. and The CDC stated that 16.1 million doses of H1N1 vaccine had been made by Oct. 23.
CDC Director Thomas Frieden is quoted by saying “Even if you yell at them [the vaccine strains], they don’t grow faster.”
Getting everyone vaccinated is a work in progress and we should look at the bright side of the situation. We have a cure and it’s being given to us.
Matthew Richardson for the Editorial Board.