Assignment on Influenza and Vaccines
INFLUENZA ASSIGNMENT
Part I
1. At the turn of the century, the United States encountered one of the most deadly pandemics the world has ever known - the Spanish flu. The flu, caused by H1N1 virus, claimed the lives of 675,000 Americans during World War I. About forty years later, in 1957, another pandemics caused by H2N2 killed approximately 70,000 Americans. The virus, which contained genes from human and avian influenza, was firstly identified in China then quickly spread to other parts of the world. In 1968, an outbreak of H3N2 virus (which also was the result of human and avian influenza genes) occurred and caused 34,000 deaths among Americans. The most recent occurrence of influenza viruses was what called the “Swine Flu.” The Swine Flu was caused by a new strain of H1N1 virus and had it outbreak just last year in 2009.
2. For my assignment, I have to choose three out of five people to give vaccinations or nasal spray to because of the limited resource. My choice, after having done the research, would be:
1. Bogey Phlegmenstein – the 50 year-old pharmacist for the vaccine.
2. Helen Hornblower – the 72 year-old grandmother for the vaccine, and
3. Lars Loogenkugel – the 19 year-old college student for the nasal mist flu shot.
I choose Lars for the nasal mist flu shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, nasal spray should only be given to healthy people age 2-49 and not pregnant. Since Lars is the only person within the approved age and is not pregnant, he seems to be the only choice!
The other people in the group all seem to be at equal risk of catching the flu, however, I choose Bogey and Helen to give the vaccines to because there are more reasons for me to do so.
Helen is at risk because firstly, she’s an elderly – the group of people that is at high risk of catching flu, according to CDC. Secondly, Helen’s grandchildren are young (3, 5 and 8 years of age) and they visit her very often. Her eldest
Part I
1. At the turn of the century, the United States encountered one of the most deadly pandemics the world has ever known - the Spanish flu. The flu, caused by H1N1 virus, claimed the lives of 675,000 Americans during World War I. About forty years later, in 1957, another pandemics caused by H2N2 killed approximately 70,000 Americans. The virus, which contained genes from human and avian influenza, was firstly identified in China then quickly spread to other parts of the world. In 1968, an outbreak of H3N2 virus (which also was the result of human and avian influenza genes) occurred and caused 34,000 deaths among Americans. The most recent occurrence of influenza viruses was what called the “Swine Flu.” The Swine Flu was caused by a new strain of H1N1 virus and had it outbreak just last year in 2009.
2. For my assignment, I have to choose three out of five people to give vaccinations or nasal spray to because of the limited resource. My choice, after having done the research, would be:
1. Bogey Phlegmenstein – the 50 year-old pharmacist for the vaccine.
2. Helen Hornblower – the 72 year-old grandmother for the vaccine, and
3. Lars Loogenkugel – the 19 year-old college student for the nasal mist flu shot.
I choose Lars for the nasal mist flu shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, nasal spray should only be given to healthy people age 2-49 and not pregnant. Since Lars is the only person within the approved age and is not pregnant, he seems to be the only choice!
The other people in the group all seem to be at equal risk of catching the flu, however, I choose Bogey and Helen to give the vaccines to because there are more reasons for me to do so.
Helen is at risk because firstly, she’s an elderly – the group of people that is at high risk of catching flu, according to CDC. Secondly, Helen’s grandchildren are young (3, 5 and 8 years of age) and they visit her very often. Her eldest
References: “12 Important Tips to Prevent Cold and Flu Infection.” University of Pennsylvania – Office of Heath Education. Accessed 23 October 2010 from http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/cold/prevent.htm “Vaccines and How They Work.” (3 December 2009). ConsumerReports.Org. Accessed 23 October 2010 from http://www.consumerreports.org/health/conditions-and-treatments/ear-infection/what-is-it/vaccines-and-how-they-work.htm “Fight Flu and Pneumonia.” (18 March 2010). The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare. Accessed 23 October 2010 from http://www.medicare.gov/health/fludetails.asp “Fact Sheet: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).” (15 December 2009). Flu.Gov. Accessed 23 October 2010 from http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/vsafety/gbs_factsheet.html “What Pregnant Women Should Know About Flu.” Flu.Gov. Accessed 23 October 2010 from http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/parents/pregnant/index.html “Protecting Against Influenza (Flu): Advice for Caregivers of Children Less Than 6 Months Old.” (1 July 2009). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Accessed 23 October 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/infantcare.htm “Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine.” (7 October 2010). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Accessed 23 October 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm