The "expert panel" that advises the center for disease control (unnamed and faceless committee), has told the powers that be that public safety officers (police and fire) that they are not critical responders and they will not be offered the H1N1 vaccination. School officials and care providers will receive it however. Then comes the article I've placed below. We can also vaccinate swine before we can vaccinate our first responders. Just another example of how out of touch Washington is with the real world. You should contact your elected officials NOW and demand they change their protocols. Somehow I suspect the majority of real Americans would like to know there will be healthy firefighters to put out fires and law enforcement officers to respond to crazies and black market junkies.

Vaccine may protect pigs from human swine flu

Story by The Associated Press

7:51 a.m. Thursday, September 3, 2009

Lincoln, Neb. — Humans may not be the only ones guarding against swine flu when influenza season hits. Pigs could also be getting new vaccinations.

That's because pigs can contract the virus from people, in much the same way people do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it passes from human to hog mostly from coughing and sneezing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given several animal vaccine manufacturers the "master seed virus" from the swine flu strain now circulating among humans. At least one company, Pfizer, says it's developing a vaccination for pigs.

The human swine flu hasn't yet turned up in U.S. pig herds. And the USDA says hog farmers won't be required to vaccinate herds against it.

But officials will encourage vaccinations in response to any U.S. pig outbreaks.

Labels: Swine Flue H1N1