• NPR Swine Flu Coverage

    • As Yule Approaches, Santas Seek H1N1 Help

      November 19, 2009

      Holiday season is colliding with swine flu season, and that has Santas concerned. The cheerful Christmas ambassadors come in contact with millions of children each year, and many are being advised to take special precautions. One Santa organization has petitioned a member of Congress to help elevate them to a priority status for the H1N1 vaccine. Ernest Berger, president of the nonprofit volunteer group Santa America, says Santas should be considered seriously for the vaccine because of their close contact with large groups of children.

    • FDA Reassures Doctors Skeptical Of H1N1 Vaccine

      November 18, 2009

      Most doctors fully support the H1N1 vaccine, but there are a few who won't back it. Because patients trust their doctors the most for medical decisions, the FDA is trying to assure these doctors of the vaccine's safety.

    • Swine Flu Vaccine Access May Depend On Location

      November 17, 2009

      It appears some states are doing better than others with the availability and distribution of the swine flu vaccine. In California, for example, health officials are reporting that some high-risk people will not have access to the vaccine until 2010.

    • Flu Funds Boost Local Health Budgets

      November 13, 2009

      The federal government has allocated more than $1 billion to help cash-strapped local health departments hire staff to distribute the H1N1 vaccine. The money has allowed some departments to rehire staff they had recently let go.

    • How Effective Is The New Flu Vaccine?

      November 9, 2009

      Some people say they won't get a flu vaccine — against seasonal flu or H1N1 — because they believe it doesn't work. It's true that the seasonal flu vaccine doesn't stop all cases of the flu in people who get it. But just how effective is the new H1N1 vaccine?

    • Flu Threat Looms As Mecca Readies For Pilgrims

      November 6, 2009

      The H1N1 virus is a major concern for Saudi Arabian authorities, who are gearing up to host millions of Muslims on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Health officials are making recommendations and monitoring pilgrims, but otherwise can do little to mitigate the virus' spread.

    • Boost Your Flu IQ: Your Questions Answered

      November 2, 2009

      With the swine flu virus more widespread than ever and concerns about availability of the vaccine circulating, we solicited your questions about the pandemic. NPR's health editors teamed up with experts to tackle your questions.

    • Swine Flu Spread Highlights Paid-Sick-Leave Debate

      October 26, 2009

      Many people continue to go to work when they're sick because they don't get paid if they stay home. A bill that would require employers to offer sick leave has been on hold, stalled by the health care overhaul legislation. But the swine flu epidemic has made the issue more pressing.

    • Swine Flu Vaccine Shortage: Why?

      October 26, 2009

      Millions of Americans already have gotten swine flu, and lines are long at flu shot clinics. President Obama has declared the pandemic a national emergency, but supplies of vaccine against the new H1N1 flu are far below projections. Manufacturers only recently discovered why they can't deliver as much vaccine as expected.

    • Flu Attack! How A Virus Invades Your Body

      October 23, 2009

      When you get the flu, viruses turn your cells into tiny virus factories that help spread the disease. This animation takes you to the front lines of a viral assault that could be going on inside your body right now.

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