Days after President Barack Obama declared H1N1 or Swine Flu a National Emergency, his Health and Human Services Secretary made an appearance on the Today Show.
Monday, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius talked about the declaration which will give hospitals more power if there is a sudden spike in cases. She also talked about the vaccine. As of Monday, she said there are 16.5 million doses available to the public. Health officials expect 28 million doses by the end of October, less than the 120 million originally expected, and still less than the 41 million anticipated only recently.
Sebelius says the production is slow because you are dealing with a complex process. That process is 50-years-old. It involves injecting the virus into an egg and allowing it to grow and multiply for several days. The egg is then cracked, the fluid is extracted, the flu virus killed and the substance is purified. Lastly, it is tested. From start to finish, the process takes six months.
Hundreds and even thousands of people have lined up at health clinics around the country waiting to get the shot or the flu mist. Sebelius says the vaccine yields are improving and glitches in the production lines have been addressed.
"We think six months from the time the virus was identified, having a vaccine that is ready to go, having a vaccine that really takes effect in one dose is good news. I know people are frustrated standing on line... and anxious. There will be a vaccine for everyone," said Sebelius.
For the entire interview on the Today Show:
