H1N1 Vulnerable Groups
People prone to H1N1 Virus infections
While Swine Flu is widely recognised as a threat to all, it has particular danger for certain groups of vulnerable people. This often happens with any epidemic, where the virus spreads quicker among certain groups. These may include those groups of people whose immune systems are not as strong as they could be. For example, an elderly man will most definitely be more at risk form a virus than a young man in his twenties who is in great physical health.
Pregnant women, people who work with public in the health industry, and anyone over six months old who has a serious health condition are among those people who are identified as being vulnerable when it comes to Swine Flu.
As it turns out, a massive 11 million people join the group. This means that this vast number will be given priority when vaccines are administered, for example. The top group is that which comprises anyone over the age of six months and under the age of sixty-five who has been recognised as at risk form general flu.
The next group on the priority list is pregnant women. This means any woman who is pregnant is deemed to be in danger form Swine Flu, and is given priority when treatment is taking place.
Anyone who is in regular contact with a person or people with drastically reduced immune systems is also deemed to be at risk. For example, if you live with someone who has cancer, or any other degenerative disease, then you are deemed to be at risk. This is particularly important, because the effect of decreased immune systems on people who are not ill can be devastating, with sickness travelling very quickly between infected groups.
Anyone who is over sixty five years of age and has been previously recognised as being at risk of flue in general is placed in the Swine Flu at risk category. They generally tend to be people who are not healthy. This is interesting to note too because there are many over sixty-five year olds who are very healthy indeed. So the distinction is made between those who are healthy and those who are not.
Frontline health workers, for example nurses, doctors, and midwives, as well as hospital auxiliary staff, will be vaccinated within a few days of the vaccination being made available. This helps the workforce in healthcare to stay healthy and remain able to treat people who are sick. Also, the infection speed when a health worker is involved with a high volume of patients is formidable. Entire hospitals could be closed down if the vaccinations are not delivered.
The virus is pretty much a mild issue in most people’s lives. However, having the option of vaccinating large numbers of vulnerable groups means that if the virus becomes even more aggressive, the people who have most to lose are fully protected. This means that when vaccinations are rolled out on a large scale, people can expect to see a very large queue forming.