Good news: The H1N1 flu virus is on the decline.
Bad news: The virus is not completely gone, patients have stopped asking for the vaccine, and doctors are worried about another outbreak.
Despite a peak in October of 2009, the virus has been forgotten along with its vaccine.
According to a recent American Medical News article, a Harvard School of Public Health poll found that nearly half of Americans surveyed in January believed that the H1N1 outbreak is over.
However, “CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) officials emphasize that the virus is still circulating, and they say continued vaccination of the public is critical to prevent a third wave of flu outbreaks.”
Most doctors are concerned about the declining demand for these vaccinations. “We’re sure hoping that [patients]are getting the vaccine,” Brent Sherard, MD, MPH, director and state health officer at the Wyoming Dept. of Health says, but he admits that, “it’s a little hard […] when there is almost no H1N1 activity, to continue to promulgate that message.”
Speak with your local Beijing physician about getting the vaccine.
Photo courtesy of Michael_Desmarais of Flickr.com
