The World Health Organization (WHO) announced of June 11th 2009 that they have raised the level of the swine flu alert from level 5 to a level 6 pandemic.
Margaret Chan, Director-general of the WHO made the official statement following an intense teleconference consultation with the world's leading influenza experts.
The one thought that is praying on everyone's mind around the world - What about Swine Flu Shots? It appears the Obama Administration in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are looking to roll out the wave of swine flu shots in fall.
The "Fall Vaccination Campaign" would actually entail a total of three flu jabs.
The first will be the to tackle seasonal influenza and the next two will be specifically targeted at the swine flu virus.
There are a number of complicated and compelling issues for the Administration to make decisions on.
The most worrying - Who should receive inoculation against the deadly influenza virus first? With most cases of influenza and even the 3 previous flu pandemics that have spread throughout the world, young children and the elderly are the one's most at risk.
However the new pandemic of 2009 seems to have hit people mainly aged between 5 and 65.
As if there wasn't already enough panic being caused, there are 2 more problems that i can envisage:- - Is it possible for private vaccine makers to produce up to 180 million doses at the same time? Plus additional stocks for second vaccinations may well push this figure to in excess of 500 million.
- If you cast your mind back to 1976.
The USA suffered a similar experience with this virus.
Hundreds of Americans somehow developed numerous neurological disorders following their swine flu shots.