the Online NewsHour
E-mail This Page   Print This Page  
the Online NewsHour EXTRANews for Students AND Teacher Resources MAIN: ONLINE NEWSHOUR
7 - 12 grade level
SEARCH
ALL OR STUDENT VOICES LESSON PLANS VIDEO GO
Main: NewsHour ExtraU.S.WorldScienceEconomicsHealthArts and MediaStudent VoicesTeacher Center
Posted on January 8, 2010

With Abundant Vaccine Supply, H1N1 Fears Ease

With the H1N1 vaccine now readily available, the swine flu panic that swept the nation in 2009 has begun to ease and the lines at clinics have disappeared. But some health officials worry that with the flu season still going strong, H1N1 could take many by surprise.

According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the interest in getting vaccinated has slowed too soon.

"There is a sense that it's over, but it's too soon to say its over, because it is early in the flu season still, and H1N1 has been very difficult to predict," Frieden said.

Some experts even believe that a third wave of H1N1 could be on the horizon. Children and young people are populations that are still at risk.

"There is a sense that it's over, but it's too soon to say its over, because it is early in the flu season still, and H1N1 has been very difficult to predict." - Dr. Thomas Frieden, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

"Unfortunately, right now, most of the world believes that H1N1 pandemic of 2009 is over and done with, and they have written its obituary." - Dr. Michael Osterholm, director, University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research

"For children, for young adults, the rate of death from H1N1 is at least five times higher than from a usual flu season. And, for children, at least, it has been as bad as the 1968 pandemic. So, by all means, it has not been a 1918, it has not been a 1957, so far. But it's a disease that has made many people sick, many of them severely ill, and, sadly, has killed more than 10,000 Americans." - Dr. Thomas Frieden

1. What is the flu?

2. What have you heard about swine flu? What are the symptoms?

3. Have you had the swine flu vaccine? Why or why not?

1. What is your school doing to protect against swine flu?

2. Are you nervous about the flu? Why or why not?

3. Do you think that people should be more concerned about it than they are?

4. Why do you think that the fervor for the vaccine has declined in recent months? Does it just have to do with the availability of the H1N1 vaccine? What could be some other factors?

Comments

Post a Comment:

This is a teacher community that thrives on your thoughts, suggestions and comments. We would love to have a free ranging discussion in this space about the resources and how we can all encourage young people to think about current events and the world around them.

So, dive in. Tell other teachers what you like about this video, what you wish was different and what you hope to accomplish.

Especially helpful? Come back after using the video and let us know how it worked!

To ensure a productive and civil discourse, we pre-moderate comments, so it might take a little time for your comment to appear.

Thanks for waiting.

Name: (required, pseudonym ok)
E-mail address: (required, will not be published)
Comment:
 

 
Welcome
Video Packages
Compiled from over 30 years of NewsHour archives, video packages provide historical context to topical issues.
Black Monday

NewsHour Coverage of Financial Turmoil

A selection of NewsHour coverage of past turmoil in financial markets.

Oil

Oil Prices: a Brief History

Four decades of NewsHour coverage on the price of oil.

NewsHour Coverage of Immigration Issues

As an increasing number of people enter the U.S. illegally, the United States has struggled to address the immigration issue.

Bridge

Examining the State of U.S. Infrastructure

Ray Suarez examines the state of bridges, ports, airports and roads across the U.S. in Blueprint America, a collaboration with WNET New York.

More resources: Blueprint America

Hurricane photo

A Look Back: Hurricane Katrina

NewsHour reports from the days immediately following the hurricane, detailing the storm\'s damage, broken levees, evacuations and the relief efforts.

Mao watch

NewsHour Coverage of Modern China

This video package focuses on modern Chinese history and how some of the biggest developments from the country have influenced the world.

Mars lander

NASA Celebrates Fifty Years

NASA was established on July 29, 1958. Watch recent NewsHour interviews with NASA scientists and reports on NASA research.

Radovan Karadzic

NewsHour Coverage of Radovan Karadzic

A collection of NewsHour coverage of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who was captured in July 2008 on war crimes charges.

Benazir Bhutto

NewsHour Interviews with Pakistani Leader Benazir Bhutto

A series of interviews with assassinated Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto, the first woman elected to lead a Muslim country.

 
FRIDAY
Former IRS Chief: 'Foolish Mistakes Were Made'
News Wrap: Sectarian Blasts in Iraq Kill 76
Outrage Over Sexual Assaults in the Military
Political Wrap With Shields and Brooks
Covering Watergate With MacNeil and Lehrer
An hour-long daily news broadcast.