swine flu
H1N1 more severe among blacks and Hispanics than whites in Boston
By adamg - 1/11/10 - 12:06 pm
From BPHC
The Boston Public Health Commission has posted findings from a study of swine-flu cases in Boston over the past year. One key finding: Hispanics required hospitalization for H1N1 more than four times as often as whites; black three times as often. Almost half the blacks requiring a hospital stay had asthma, which the commission says underscores the need for particularly active vaccination programs for people with certain other existing health issues (UPDATE: Sharp-eyed, statistics-minded SwirlyGrrl notes in the comments the problem seems to be among minority children, not adults).
Boston knows how to put on a flu clinic
By adamg - 12/6/09 - 1:56 pmWent to the Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury today for my swine-flu shot (yep, I'm in one of the risk groups). Based on what I'd read about some other flu clinics, I was braced for a long wait.
But no. There were a gazillion Boston Public Health Commission workers and EMTs there and lots of arrow signs and staunchions and stuff, and even with all the stops along the way to pick up brochures and fill out paperwork and hand in paperwork, I don't think I was there for more than ten minutes.
Boston residents can get free H1N1 shots this weekend
By adamg - 12/2/09 - 10:19 amIf you're a Boston resident in one of the high-risk groups, you can get a free shot this weekend at clinics run by the Boston Public Health Commission.
One clinic will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Hyde Park High School, 665 Metropolitan Ave., in Hyde Park. The other is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Ohrenberger School, 175 West Boundary Rd., in West Roxbury.
Record level of flu in Massachusetts
By adamg - 11/19/09 - 8:41 amA week after reporting flu-related emergency-room visits might have plateaued, WBUR today reports that flu cases have reached record levels in Massachusetts.
Will trade swine-flu vaccine for Bon Jovi tickets
By adamg - 11/17/09 - 10:21 amMadhouse at Burlington flu-shot clinic
By adamg - 11/14/09 - 12:06 pmBrian Christiansen reports 3,800 people showed up to try to get one of 2,000 flu shots (500 for H1N1, 1,500 for regular flu):
... Took my 14 month old son to the clinic held at Burlington, MA’s high school today. I got there a half hour before it opened, after sitting in a half hour of traffic on Rt 3A to get there. Police blocked the driveway, sending people to park at Simmons Park, about a half mile up the street.
I parked there and took my son in his stroller back through the pouring rain. When I got about half way up the school driveway, the woman whom I parked next to was coming back towards me with her infant. She said there wasn’t enough vaccine of either seasonal or H1N1 for the number of people in line. She said 3800 people were already there, pushing and shoving. ...
Boston announces first swine-flu death of the fall
By adamg - 11/10/09 - 4:19 pmThe Boston Public Health Commission reports a 65-year-old man with "multiple underlying health conditions" died of H1N1 on Oct. 31. Test results confirming H1N1 infection came back yesterday, the commission says.
He is Boston's fifth H1N1 death, the commission says. The others died during the spring outbreak.
Swine hunt: Boston hospitals say worst of H1N1 may be over
By adamg - 11/10/09 - 8:47 amWBUR reports some local hospitals say the number of ER visits by people with flu-like symptoms has plateaued.
Useless drugs before swine?
By adamg - 11/9/09 - 8:46 amWBUR reports that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is seeing an increase in prescriptions for antibiotics to treat flu symptoms, which the insurer calls "a little concerning" since antibiotics don't work against the flu.
New group: Flu Fighters
By adamg - 11/5/09 - 4:49 pmNew video from the Boston Public Health Commission:
