Current information about the ordering and distribution of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) vaccine is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site, Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a teleconference.
Every Friday, data on how many doses of vaccine were available for ordering and how many were shipped to states or large cities will be made available on the CDC Web site, she noted.
Although the CDC recommends against the overuse of antivirals, individuals who have severe illness or who are at high risk for complications, such as pregnant women, “can greatly benefit from antiviral medications,” Dr. Schuchat said. As of Oct. 1, the CDC had confirmed reports of 28 pregnant women in the United States who have died as a result of H1N1 influenza, Dr. Schuchat said. She also noted that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had authorized distribution to the states of several thousand courses of liquid Tamiflu for children.
Dr. Schuchat added that the CDC was in the process of updating its guidance on the use of personal protective equipment for health care workers to protect against influenza.
Data from a study of 221 health care workers published recently online (JAMA 2009 Oct. 1; doi:10.1001/jama. 2009.1466]) showed that standard surgical masks appeared to be no worse than N95 respirators in preventing the spread of influenza in routine health care settings.