WASHINGTON (CNN) – First daughters Malia and Sasha Obama were vaccinated last week against the H1N1 flu virus, the White House announced late Tuesday in a post on the official White House blog.
"President and Mrs. Obama have not yet been vaccinated for H1N1," Katie McCormick-Lelyveld, the first lady's press secretary wrote, "and they will wait until the needs of the priority groups identified by the CDC - including young people under the age of 24, pregnant women, and people with underlying conditions - have been met."
McCormick-Lelyveld wrote that the first daughters were vaccinated last week when the H1N1 vaccine became available to Washington, D.C. school children.
"The girls' H1N1 vaccine was administered by a White House physician, who applied for and received the vaccine from the DC Department of Health using the same process as every other vaccination site in the District."
Tuesday's blog post also encouraged the public to check flu.gov in order to learn more about how to protect against the flu.
In an interview on CNN's State of the Union late last month, the president told CNN's John King that the first family would "will stand in line like everybody else," to get the H1N1 vaccine. "And when folks say it's our turn, that's when we'll get it," the president also told King.
(CNN) - A Republican and a Democratic senator pledged their support Sunday if President Barack Obama asks for further resources to respond to the H1N1 flu outbreak.
Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the chamber's top Republican, and Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, told the ABC program "This Week" the government should have whatever resources it needs to deal with the global H1N1 pandemic.
Obama declared a national emergency Friday to enable his government to respond more quickly to the spreading flu virus.
FULL POST
WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Obama declared a national emergency Saturday to deal with the "rapid increase in illness" from the H1N1 influenza virus.
The move allows the Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements" in order to help health care facilities enact emergency plans to deal with the "pandemic."
Those requirements are contained in the Medicare, Medicaid, and state Children's Health Insurance programs, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy rule.
"The 2009 H1N1 pandemic continues to evolve. The rates of illness continue to rise rapidly within many communities across the nation, and the potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities," Obama said in a statement.
"Thus, in recognition of the continuing progression of the pandemic, and in further preparation as a nation, we are taking additional steps to facilitate our response."
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Rep. Joe Wilson's wife Roxanne has been diagnosed with swine flu, the congressman's office confirmed to CNN on Thursday.
The South Carolina Republican who gained instant notoriety in September for shouting "You lie!" at the president told The Hill newspaper on Thursday that he plans to keep his distance from his wife when he returns home this weekend.
Wilson said he plans to get the H1N1 vaccination soon, but only after "the majority of the American people" receive it.
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Washington, is the only member of Congress to have contracted swine flu. He tweeted the news on Monday, revealing plans to head off to "seclusion for a while" while he recovers.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Rep. Joe Wilson's wife Roxanne has been diagnosed with swine flu, the congressman's office confirmed to CNN on Thursday.
The South Carolina Republican who gained instant notoriety in September for shouting "You lie!" at the president told The Hill newspaper on Thursday that he plans to keep his distance from his wife when he returns home this weekend.
Wilson said he plans to get the H1N1 vaccination soon, but only after "the majority of the American people" receive it.
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Washington, is the only member of Congress to have contracted swine flu. He tweeted the news on Monday, revealing plans to head off to "seclusion for a while" while he recovers.
(CNN) – The H1N1 virus commonly known as 'swine flu' has hit Capitol Hill.
Rep. Greg Walden, a Republican from Oregon, tweeted Monday evening a doctor diagnosed him with the virus and is heading off to "seclusion for a while."
Andrew Whelan, Walden's press secretary, confirmed to CNN the congressman has fallen victim to swine flu and is following his doctor's orders to "get some rest and take it easy."
Walden appears to be the first member of Congress to come down with H1N1, though other representatives have said their children have contracted the virus.
CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report
Asked about plans for his family's health in an interview that airs Sunday on CNN's State of the Union, the president said he intends to consult with his Health and Human Services Secretary and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"And whatever they tell me to do, I will do," Obama told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King.
"[H]ere's what I guarantee you," Obama also told King, "We want to get vaccinated. We think it's the right thing to do. We will stand in line like everybody else. And when folks say it's our turn, that's when we'll get it."
FULL POST
WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday that the nation’s public health system was preparing to fight the H1N1, or swine flu, virus but, he added, the system itself has its own challenges on the eve of what may be a historic flu season.
“Is there anything that you need?” CNN Chief National Correspondent John King asked Dr. Thomas Frieden in an interview that aired Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, “Now that you’re in your new job in Atlanta?”
“Well, I think the challenges are really significant,” Frieden told King.
FULL POST
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Recent Comments