Case Studies on the a(H1N1) “Swine Flu” Pandemic, 2009

The newly discovered A(H1N1) influenza strain in 2009, known as “swine flu,” contained gene segments originating from pigs, humans, and birds. People can be infected by being scratched or bitten by a pig or by consuming food or water without washing their hands after touching pigs. At that time, seasonal flu vaccines did not protect against this strain until an effective vaccine became available in November 2009. Although this influenza was the first global flu pandemic since the 1960s, it was also the first one communicators employed the internet and social media platforms to reach the public. The pork industry was impacted by the name “swine flu,” and responded with a campaign that included safety messages on consuming pork in order to alleviate public&s;s fears of pork products as covered in case study 9.2. Case study 9.3 explores how CDC and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials changed the way people could receive vaccinations nationwide and in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in 2009. The CDC 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Pharmacy Initiative, requiring pharmacies to become certified to offer vaccines, made it easier and faster for the public to get vaccines at their local pharmacies.