CDC director notes strong demand for H1N1 vaccination by consumers

ATLANTA Now is the time for Americans to get their H1N1 vaccines, noted Anne Schuchat, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, during a press conference with journalists last week. As of Dec. 12, “about 46 million people had been vaccinated with the H1N1 vaccine,” Schuchat said.

According to a CDC poll, about half of Americans have expressed interest in getting vaccinated, but only 1-in-3 have actually gotten the vaccine, suggesting that there still is a strong demand. More and more H1N1 vaccines have become available lately, including distribution through retail pharmacy channels.

Of the 46 million inoculation doses dispensed to date, 40% of those doses have gone to children, Schuchat said, though CDC estimates that 2 million children have received a recommended second vaccination. “We do think there are a lot of children that need their second dose in the weeks ahead,” she said.

CDC recommends that children get two doses of H1N1 vaccine, about four weeks apart.

H1N1 still dominates incidence of influenza, Schuchat noted, adding that while incidence of H1N1 is dropping, it’s still very prevalent. There are still 11 states reporting widespread activity, Schuchat added, and seasonal strains of influenza have yet to really predominate over H1N1.

The CDC consumer poll was conducted Dec. 6 through Dec. 12, and includes information culled from 1,368 adults and 3,243 children.